Singapore men’s and women’s teams exited the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in Busan, Korea on Wednesday, as they lost to Poland and Iran respectively by similar 3-0 scorelines in their Round of 32 matches at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Centre.

The fortunes of the women appeared to elude them at the crucial moment, as Zhou Jingyi, Zeng Jian, and Wong Xin Ru all succumbed to narrow 2-3 defeats to Natalia Bajor, Katarzyna Wegrzyn and Zuzanna Wielgos respectively.

The men’s team were aiming to avoid suffering the same fate as their women counterparts, but from the off, found the going tough against their Asian rivals.

Although Koen Pang began the match with promise against Nima Alamian, the young Singaporean struggled to overcome his seasoned opponent, ultimately succumbing 11-6, 10-12, 6-11, 6-11.

Similarly, 17-year-old Izaac Quek, while putting up a brave fight, had no answer to Noshad Alamiyan, 31, losing in straight sets 6-11, 6-11, 4-11.

Singapore’s hopes of progression were finally put to bed when Amir Hossein Hodaei comfortably beat Clarence Chew, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5, to send Iran into the Round of 16 against World No.2, Germany.