Wednesday, July 1, 2009
11:15 PM
ASIAN Youth Games - Singapore and Hong Kong Taking the Lead
Singapore started the Table Tennis competition on a bright note, attaining 2 wins out of 2 games played to top Group D alongside with Hong Kong, China. Philippines and Kuwait are still in with a shout, but the highlight of the day was definitely our local paddlers' remarkable comeback in the face of adversity.

Singapore's matches against Philippines and Nepal were put on hold briefly, as members of the team were feared to have come into contact with a H1N1 infected case. In a statement, the Singapore Asian Youth Games Organising Committee (SAYGOC) said the decision was made to postpone the matches as two male players on the Singapore team were identified on Tuesday night as potentially having been in contact with a confirmed H1N1 flu case. Subsequent inquiry confirmed that the fears were unfounded, and Singapore's matches were allowed to commence late in the evening.

A member of the Singapore national youth team, who competed with the paddlers at the Southeast Asian Junior table tennis championships in Bangkok last week, was diagnosed with H1N1 flu on Sunday and contact tracing was conducted.

The incident hardly seemed to affect their play, as they dispatched both their opponents with aplomb. Li Siyun Isabelle and Chew Zhe Yu Clarence won their singles and mixed doubles without losing a set for any matches, and look well on course to secure their passage into the 2nd stage.

In their 1st game against the Philippines, Li took the 1st point from Ian Lariba, who obviously couldn't get use of the girl's defensive style of play. Li won 11-5, 11-2, 11-1. Clarence Chew, whose style of play was the exact opposite of Li's, was not in forgiving mood neither. He defeated Val Stephen Jaca 11-3, 11-6, 11-6. The duo then combine to secure the last point of the team.

The players continued their form in the 2nd match against Nepal. Once again, Isabelle took the 1st point for Singapore by beating Maharjan Elina, 11-2, 11-3, 12-10. Clarence earned the 2nd point with another win against Roka Pradip. He won 11-9, 11-7, 11-7. Although there is a difference in the styles of play between Isabelle and Clarence, but it doesn't seem to pose any problems to them. They won their doubles match, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4.

The players will be facing Kuwait and Hong Kong tomorrow to fight for a place in the 2nd Round.




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