Sea Games: Ping pong squad optimistic of getting two bronze

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- National table tennis head coach Beh Lee Wei is confident that his squad can achieve the target set by the Malaysian Table Tennis Association (TTAM) and the National Sports Council (MSN) at the Hanoi SEA Games scheduled to take place from May 12 to 23.

"Based on the target, the ping pong squad is optimistic of bringing home two bronze medals, namely from the men's and women's team events," she said during a press conference at the National Sports Council (MSN) here today.

Lee Wei said despite the lack of competitive tournaments in the country as well as at the international level following the COVID-19 outbreak, the young athletes in the national squad had received adequate exposure from their more senior peers. 

"It is the same for the opposing teams, because they were also affected (by the pandemic) that they could not fully test the ability of their athletes, but for me, the national squad is still ready to prove something at the Games," she said.

With a month left before leaving for Hanoi, she said the coaching team was carrying out a full assessment as well as analysing the list of opposing players who will be competing in the Games.

The national squad will feature 10 athletes, namely Leong Chee Feng, Choong Javen, Wong Qi Shen, Danny Ng Wann Sing and Lee Yong Yi for the men’s team; and Ho Ying, Karen Lyne Son of Dick, Tee Ai Xin, Alice Chang Li Sian and Im Li Ying (women).

In the 2019 edition in the Philippines, the national ping pong squad won two bronze medals through Choong Javen-Amos Ling Yi Heng and Muhammad Ashraf Haiqal-Wong Qi Shen.

-- BERNAMA