C'wealth Games: Team Singapore paddlers off to winning starts

GLASGOW 2014

XX COMMONWEALTH GAMES

July 23-Aug 3

ALTHOUGH a fresh line-up was fielded, it was still business as usual for Singapore's table tennis juggernaut at the Commonwealth Games, with the women's and men's teams off to flying starts.

Even with world No. 5 Feng Tianwei rested, the women's side cruised to a 3-0 win over Sri Lanka while the men also recorded a 3-0 victory over Ghana at Scotstoun Sports Campus, in the west end of Glasgow.

Without their captain, the women's team quickly despatched the Sri Lanka side as Yu Mengyu beat Waru Sawithana 11-6, 11-8, 11-4, Isabelle Li beat Madurangi I. 11-9, 11-2, 11-7 and the doubles pair of Lin Ye and Yu beat Piumila Hansani and Madurangi 13-11, 12-10, 11-7.

After the result was done and dusted in 63 minutes, a satisfied women's head coach Jing Junhong said: "This is a normal performance and they played to expectation.

"The players were a bit poor in the beginning. Maybe this is because it is a first Commonwealth Games for some of them but they improved as the game went on.

"Overall, the players coped well."

But Jing remains tight-lipped on when she will use her heavy artillery in Feng.

Smiling, the former Olympian said: "We will see. The opponents in the opening round are not that strong.

"It's a good opportunity to give the rest of the team a chance to polish their skills in a competitive environment."

In the men's competition, captain and world No. 20 Gao Ning led the way by beating Emmanuel Commey 11-4, 11-7, 11-6.

Zhan Jian then beat Felix Lartey 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 and the doubles pair of Li Hu and Gao prevailed over D. Abreta and Lartey 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 to complete the convincing win.

The women's team played Northern Ireland while the men took on Sri Lanka in matches after press time.

meng@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on July 25, 2014.
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