Paddlers Serve Creditable Results
WTT Singapore Smash + WTT Youth Contender Vila, Real
The WTT Youth Contender held from 26 February to 4 March 2022 in Vila, Real was a successful outing for Izaac Quek Yong, Ser Lin Qian (both Secondary 4) and Zhou Jingyi (alumna). Earlier at the U19 and U17 Girls’ Singles, both Lin Qian and Jingyi competed in the all-Singapore and all-Sporrts School finals, with Lin Qian and Jingyi clinching 2 medals (1 gold and 1 silver) each.
On the last day of the tournament, Izaac added a fifth medal in the U19 Boys’ Singles event. He put up an strong fight against France’s Hugo Deschamps. Despite losing the first set 6-11, Izaac led in the following two sets with 13-11 and 11-7. He eventually settled for a silver after dropping the last two sets with 8-11 and 10-12.
Back home, a slew of Table Tennis action was about to take place as the WTT Singapore Smash made its debut in Singapore. As the host country, 15 paddlers were awarded the wildcards to compete in the event featuring the world’s best players at the OCBC Arena from 7 to 20 March. Out of the 15 players, 11 are Sports School past and present student-athletes. They are Izaac Quek Yong, Ser Lin Qian (both Secondary 4), Pearlyn Koh Kai Xin (extended Diploma in Business Studies), Clarence Chew Zhe Yu and Zhang Wanling (both extended Diploma in Sport and Leisure Management), and past student-athletes Beh Kun Ting, Goi Rui Xuan, Ethan Poh Shao Feng, Koen Pang Yew En, Wong Xin Ru, Zhou Jingyi.
One of the biggest highlights of the event was when Olympian Clarence and Ethan battled their way into the quarter-finals of the Men’s Doubles. At the competition on 13 March, the duo put up a strong showing against their opponents - 4th seed and 2019 World Championships Men’s Doubles silver medallist pairing of Romania’s Ovidiu Ionescu and Spain’s Alvaro Robles. The duo took down their opponents in 22 minutes with three straight games 11-3, 11-9, 13-11.
“Our opponents today are very strong players who have done well at several major tournaments. We did not put any pressure on ourselves, which I think is a contributing factor to our eventual win,” said Ethan in a post-match interview.
The outstanding achievements of the paddlers and coaches were celebrated at the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) Annual Awards Night. Held at the Singapore Sports Hub on 22 March, seven STTA Awards were presented. This includes Izaac, who was awarded the STTA Youth Player of the Year 2021, Lin Qian, who was awarded the Special Award, Junior Category and Clarence, who was awarded the Special Awards, Senior Category.
RESULTS
WTT Youth Contender Vila, Real
U19 Boys’ Singles
Silver – Izaac Quek Yong
U19 Girls’ Singles
Gold – Ser Lin Qian
Silver – Zhou Jingyi
U17 Girls’ Singles
Gold – Zhou Jingyi
Silver – Ser Lin Qian
Photo: Singapore Table Tennis Association
On the last day of the tournament, Izaac added a fifth medal in the U19 Boys’ Singles event. He put up an strong fight against France’s Hugo Deschamps. Despite losing the first set 6-11, Izaac led in the following two sets with 13-11 and 11-7. He eventually settled for a silver after dropping the last two sets with 8-11 and 10-12.
Back home, a slew of Table Tennis action was about to take place as the WTT Singapore Smash made its debut in Singapore. As the host country, 15 paddlers were awarded the wildcards to compete in the event featuring the world’s best players at the OCBC Arena from 7 to 20 March. Out of the 15 players, 11 are Sports School past and present student-athletes. They are Izaac Quek Yong, Ser Lin Qian (both Secondary 4), Pearlyn Koh Kai Xin (extended Diploma in Business Studies), Clarence Chew Zhe Yu and Zhang Wanling (both extended Diploma in Sport and Leisure Management), and past student-athletes Beh Kun Ting, Goi Rui Xuan, Ethan Poh Shao Feng, Koen Pang Yew En, Wong Xin Ru, Zhou Jingyi.
One of the biggest highlights of the event was when Olympian Clarence and Ethan battled their way into the quarter-finals of the Men’s Doubles. At the competition on 13 March, the duo put up a strong showing against their opponents - 4th seed and 2019 World Championships Men’s Doubles silver medallist pairing of Romania’s Ovidiu Ionescu and Spain’s Alvaro Robles. The duo took down their opponents in 22 minutes with three straight games 11-3, 11-9, 13-11.
“Our opponents today are very strong players who have done well at several major tournaments. We did not put any pressure on ourselves, which I think is a contributing factor to our eventual win,” said Ethan in a post-match interview.
The outstanding achievements of the paddlers and coaches were celebrated at the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) Annual Awards Night. Held at the Singapore Sports Hub on 22 March, seven STTA Awards were presented. This includes Izaac, who was awarded the STTA Youth Player of the Year 2021, Lin Qian, who was awarded the Special Award, Junior Category and Clarence, who was awarded the Special Awards, Senior Category.
RESULTS
WTT Youth Contender Vila, Real
U19 Boys’ Singles
Silver – Izaac Quek Yong
U19 Girls’ Singles
Gold – Ser Lin Qian
Silver – Zhou Jingyi
U17 Girls’ Singles
Gold – Zhou Jingyi
Silver – Ser Lin Qian
