Rising table tennis star – Karen Lyne Dick

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SIBU: National back-up squad player Karen Lyne Dick has continued her ascending table tennis career with a string of encouraging performances in the international arena in recent months.

The latest achievement of the Sarawak-born paddler was helping the national schools team to beat hosts Singapore 3-2 to emerge as champions in the team event at the 2017 Asean Schools Games last weekend.

The 17-year-old Karen, currently attached to Bukit Jalil Sports School, played and won the third singles to pave the way for her team to snatch the gold. Other team members were Tee Ai Xin, Kuan E Xian, Tay Kah Ying, Vivian Ng and fellow Sarawakian Crystal Tiong.

In the girls doubles Karen partnered E Xian to reach the quarter-finals before bowing out.

Overall, Malaysia collected two gold and three bronze medals for its best ever outing for the sport in the annual Asean School Games.

Karen’s mother Sheena Wong told The Borneo Post that Karen will continue to train at the Bukit Jalil Sport Schools in preparation for other upcoming international duties.

“Karen is a hardworking girl and, hopefully, she can help the country achieve more international successes and bring home more accolades,” Wong said.

Last June, Karen reached the last four in the singles and partnered Ei Xian to lift the doubles title while representing Malaysia at the 23rd SEA Junior & Cadet Table Tennis Championship also held in Singapore.

The left-paw paddler also played in the Asian Junior & Cadet Table Tennis Championship held in Asan, Korea.

Karen, whose potential was spotted by Sibu Table Tennis Association (STTA) when she was eight, was picked by the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia (TTAM) in 2015 for the national back-up squad.