Singapore's women's table tennis team came out on top against Thailand in the Southeast Asian Championships in a historic final
Singapore’s decade long wait to be crowned Women’s Team champions once more at the Southeast Asian Championships ended on Thursday night, as the team of Ser Lin Qian, Zeng Jian, Loy Ming Ying, Tan Zhao Yun and Zhang Wanling came from behind to defeat hosts and defending champion Thailand, 3-2, in a see-saw final.
The last time the Women’s team tasted glory was way back in 2014, when the event was held in Cambodia, and since then, the Republic have finished runners-up twice (2016, 2022) and joint-third once (2018). There was no competition in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ser Lin Qian, 19, was the star of the show as she claimed two valuable points for Singapore, including the match winner.
“Approaching the final game, knowing the stakes were at their highest, required a focused mindset and a clear plan. We trusted our preparation, stayed disciplined, and leaned on the teamwork that brought us this far. The key was to stay composed, treat it like any other game, and execute our strategies under pressure”, said Ser.
She added, “Winning the title feels absolutely incredible, it's the culmination of hard work, sacrifice, and determination. It’s a moment that validates everything we’ve worked for, and there’s no better feeling than celebrating it with the team and our supporters.”
“I am incredibly proud of this young team. For most of them, except Zeng Jian, this was their first time competing in a team event, and to emerge as champions is no small achievement. Lin Qian delivered an exceptional performance today, and Zeng deserves immense credit for her resilience—bouncing back from an earlier defeat to secure the critical point that kept us in the game. I believe this victory will be a tremendous boost to her confidence”, said Jing Junhong, head coach of the Women’s team.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s men, without Izaac Quek and Koen Pang, who are competing at the WTT Finals in Fukuoka, and Clarence Chew, who is sitting for his university examinations, shared the bronze with Indonesia after they were defeated in the semifinals by a score of 3-1 on Wednesday by hosts Thailand, matching the result from the last edition in 2022.
The young team of Josh Chua (23), Nicholas Tan (17), Yang Ze Yi (17), Jaryl Wong (16) and Ellsworth Le (15), had already exceeded expectations by finishing second in their group behind Malaysia, which also included Vietnam, Laos and Brunei.
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