Paddlers Make History

2019 ITTF World Junior Championships

Eight days of intense table tennis drew to a thrilling conclusion at the 2019 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Junior Championships. The Under 18 Singapore Sports School paddler Koen Pang Yew En, with compatriot Josh Chua Shao Ha, clinched the Junior Boys’ Doubles bronze, bringing home a historic first medal for Singapore at the Championships.

Koen and Josh began their campaign on 28 November 2019 and fought their way into the quarter-finals to win 3-1 against Chinese Taipei duo- Feng Yi-Hsin and Tai Ming-Wei on 30 November. The Singaporean pair eventually settled for a bronze after losing to Chinese pair Xu Yingbin and Liu Yebo with 1-3 in the semi-finals on 1 December.

Koen, together with alumnus Beh Kun Ting, and student-athletes, Goi Rui Xuan and Zhou Jingyi, were part of the six-member contingent which participated in the Championships in Korat, Thailand from 24 November to 1 December. The Boys’ team which Koen and Kun Ting were part of, has also come in sixth place in the Junior Boys’ Team event.