Wednesday, May 20, 2009
10:16 AM
Commonwealth Championships - Favourites Dominate Proceedings
The Top Seed in the Men’s and Women's Team event at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, was in the fast lane in the opening group matches. Singapore recorded three-nil victories against all their opponents.

The Men Team, led by Gao Ning with Yang Zi and Pang Xue Jie in support, our male paddlers proved too strong for Cypriot trio of Andrea Tziambos, Marios Yiangou and Neofytou. Gao Ning and Yang Zi showed no mercy against their 1st opponents. Gao Ning defeated Andrea Tziambos 11-6,11-7,11-6 while Yang Zi crashed Marios Yiangou 11-8,11-9,11-5. Sports School Student Pang Xue Jie secured the last point surrending only one game. He beat Neofytou 8-11,11-7,11-4,11-6.

In their 2nd match, Singapore fielded Gao Ning, Yang Zi and Cai Xiao Li. They beat the Scottish trio of Gavin Rumgay, Stweart Crawford and Craig Howieson by three matches to nil to secure top spot in Group A. In the 1st game, Yang Zi recovered from a 1 game defeat to beat Gavin Rumgay, 6-11,11-8,7-11,10-12. Gao Ning proved too strong for Stweart Crawford, allowing Stweart Crawford to win a total of only 9 points in the 3 sets. Gao won 2-11,5-11,2-11. The experienced Cai Xiao Li then finishes the match with another 3-0 victory. He won Craig Howieson 8-11,5-11,8-11. They will be facing Malta later today.

Not to be outdone, our female paddlers dominated the proceedings. In their 1st match against New Zealand, each member won with a convincing margin of 3-0 against their opponents. Wang Yue Gu ousted Sun Yang, 3-11,4-11,5-11. Sun Bei Bei follow up by sweeping Mccarthy, 5-11,6-11,4-11. Lastly, local talent Sim Kai Xin Zena beat Angie Guo, 5-11,7-11,3-11.

Thier 2nd match against Northern Ireland prove to be not so easy task. Despite Yu Meng Yu beating Liu Na in 4 games, each set was won by only a 2 point advantage. The score was 9-11,15-13,9-11,9-11. World No. 11 Wang Yue Gu extended our lead to 2-0, after a convincing 3-0 win over Claire Nelson. She won 3-11,1-11,9-11. Defender Li Siyun Isabelle then brought matters to a close after winning Mogey Amanda 2-11,6-11,6-11. They will be competing with Guernsey later today.




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