Sarawak Hopes Table Tennis Championship Girls U-10 champion Josyne Ngu of Miri receives her trophy from Sarawak Sports Corporation sports development officer for table tennis Lisa Ludong while Ling (left) and Sibu Division Table Tennis Association chairman Dr Clement Chen look on.
KUCHING: The Table Tennis Association of Sarawak (TTAS) will be organising the 1st Hornbill International Table Tennis Championships at SJK Chung Hua No. 3 school hall along Jalan Padungan here from Aug 3 to 4.
Its deputy chairman Paul Ling Kiing Tasn said the regional invitational competition would serve as a good platform for local junior and cadet paddlers to uplift their standard as well as getting them exposed to international competitions.
“Our new group of cadet players and recently selected paddlers for the state junior teams will have the opportunity to play in this event. It is a team event divided into two categories, Open and Under-13.
“Among the countries that will be sending their teams are Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar and Sarawak (Malaysia),” he said.
According to Ling, the championships is also part of the warm-up for the state paddlers who are bound for the National Junior Table Tennis Championship in Negeri Sembilan from Sept 9 to 13 and the National Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championships in Kuala Lumpur from Nov 27 to Dec 3.
On the recent Sarawak Hopes Table Tennis Championship in Sibu, Ling said he was pleased to note the improvement in the standard of the young players especially in Sarikei where many new talents were unearthed in the past three years.
“In helping to develop the sport in other divisions, TTAS will be taking a fair approach to work closely with the Sarawak State Sports Council in promoting table tennis in Mukah and Limbang next year as part of our plan to ensure a wholesome development in the state.
“We have already carried out training programmes in Bintulu and Betong this year where we have sent MSNS and affiliate associations coaches to both divisions,” added Ling.