The Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) celebrated the sporting excellence of outstanding athletes and coaches who contributed to Singapore table tennis in 2023 at the STTA Annual Awards Night held at Jia He Grand Restaurant on Tuesday evening, with Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Family and Social Development, gracing the event as the Guest-of-Honour.
A total of 8 STTA Awards, worth a total of $5800 in cash prizes, were conferred to athletes and coaches with standout performances in the following categories:
• Outstanding Zone Training Centre Award 2023
• Special Awards 2023 (3 awards)
• STTA Coach of the Year 2023
• STTA Hopes Player of the Year 2023
• STTA Youth Player of the Year 2023
• STTA Star Player of the Year 2023
Izaac Quek, who turned 18 on Sunday, won the prestigious Star Player award following his outstanding performances in 2023. The Paris-bound Olympian had a SEA Games debut to remember in 2023, when he became the youngest ever Singapore born paddler to win 3 Gold medals at a single SEA Games, clinching the Men’s Singles and Doubles titles, and helping the Men’s team clinch gold.
He also clinched two Golds in both Men’s and Mixed Doubles at the WTT Feeder Antalya, as well as Mixed Doubles Gold at WTT Youth Star Contender Vila Nova de Gaia and WTT Feeder Dusseldorf III and finished off the year with two silvers at the ITTF World Youth Table Tennis Championships in both the U19 Men’s and Mixed Doubles.
Zhou Jingyi was a repeat winner of the Youth Player of the Year Award, having also won the award last year. Her achievements in 2023 included 1 silver in Women’s Doubles and 1 bronze in the Women’s team at the 2023 SEA Games, while it was on the WTT stage that she truly shone, winning 5 golds medals – U19 Girls Singles and U19 Mixed Doubles at WTT Youth Contender Antalya and U19 Girls Doubles and U19 Mixed Doubles at the WTT Youth Star Contender Vila Nova de Gaia, and the U19 Mixed Doubles at the WTT Feeder Dusseldorf III.
The Coach of the Year award went to Gao Ning, who led the first full local Singaporean Men’s team to win gold since 1973 at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, and Singapore’s first Men’s team gold medal since 2015 on home soil.
Ms Poh Li San, Member of Parliament of Sembawang GRC and STTA President said, “2023 was a challenging and eventful year, marked by our national paddlers’ participation in significant events such as the SEA Games in Cambodia, the Asian Games in Hangzhou, and the inaugural ITTF Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu.
“This evening, as we gather to celebrate the collective achievements of our team and to appreciate the contributions of our athletes and coaches, I am confident that our athletes will continue to push their boundaries, inspire younger athletes with their tenacity and resilience and always strive to be their best for the sport they love.”
Full List of Winners
The Outstanding Zone Training Centre Award 2023
The Zone Training Centres play an important role in laying a solid foundation for young athletes. Our zone training centre coaches are trusted to make a positive impact on our young athletes and to shape the youth of tomorrow through their hard work and guidance.
The Outstanding Zone Training Centre Award 2023: Toa Payoh Zone Training Centre
Coaches: Zhao Peng and Zhang Ying
We hope that the awards will spur our coaches to achieve even greater heights.
Special Award 2023: Koen Pang
The Special award to Koen Pang is in recognition of his sporting contribution to Singapore in the year 2023.
Koen achieved 2 Golds in the Men’s Team and Men’s Doubles at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.
Koen also finished in the Top 4 for Mixed Doubles in WTT Feeder II Dusseldorf & WTT Contender Muscat, and clinched a Men’s Doubles Gold at the WTT Feeder Antalya
Special Award 2023: Loy Ming Ying
This special award is in recognition of rising star Loy Ming Ying, 13, achievements in 2023.
At the SEA Youth Championships in Brunei, she won 2 golds in both the U15 Singles and Doubles events.
She also won 2 golds in the Girls U13 Singles at the WTT Youth Contender Berlin and WTT Youth Contender Wladyslawowo and a silver in the same event at WTT Youth Contender Linz.
Special Award 2023: Zhang Zhen
Coach Zhang was appointed in 2017 as the Assistant Coach for the Men’s Team.
Apart from attaining results with the Men’s Team, Zhang Zhen also travelled with Izaac Quek to France as Izaac had to play in the French Pro League B. He has also contributed to Izaac’s development through his coaching and advice to him.
Besides his coaching duties, Zhang Zhen has also helped maintain and organise administrative duties for the Men’s Team. His contribution to the Men’s Team has been also a factor in the success in the Men’s Team in 2023
STTA Coach of the Year 2023: Gao Ning
Coach Gao has been coaching the national team since January 2019. The three-time Olympian took over a team made of Singapore-born talents, to name a few: Clarence Chew, Koen Pang, Ethan Poh and Izaac Quek.
Coach Gao is largely responsible for the dominant Men’s performance at the 2023 SEA Games The men’s team finished with 3 Golds in the Men’s Team, Men’s Doubles and Men’s Singles.
The Gold won at SEA Games 2023 by the Men’s Team was the first full local team to win Gold since 1973. He also led Izaac and Koen to a Men’s Doubles Gold on the WTT.
STTA Hopes Player of the Year 2023: Zane Ong
The STTA Hopes Player of the Year Award is the nation’s highest accolade for young paddlers aged 13 years old and below. This award honours exceptional young paddlers because of their achievements and distinctions to the nation.
At 11 years old, Zane clinched 1st place in the Hopes Week and Challenge in Southeast Asia in Bangkok.
At both the Dr Lee Bee Wah Cup and Dr Ng Eng Hen Cup STTA Table Tennis Championships, Zane was unbeatable as he clinched 1st place for both competitions in the Boys U12 Singles.
STTA Youth Player of the Year 2023: Zhou Jingyi
The STTA Youth Player of the Year 2023 recognizes the excellence and achievements of an outstanding youth player.
Zhou Jingyi’s achievements in 2023 included 1 silver in Women’s Doubles and 1 bronze in the Women’s team at the 2023 SEA Games.
It was on the WTT stage that she truly shone, winning 5 golds medals – U19 Girls Singles and U19 Mixed Doubles at WTT Youth Contender Antalya and U19 Girls Doubles and U19 Mixed Doubles at the WTT Youth Star Contender Vila Nova de Gaia, and the U19 Mixed Doubles at the WTT Feeder Dusseldorf III.
The STTA is proud to honour Jingyi with the STTA Youth Player of the Year 2023 for her achievements.
STTA Star Player of the Year 2023: Izaac Quek
It is the most prestigious award given to recognize and honour our national paddlers.
Izaac Quek had a SEA Games debut to remember in 2023 when he became the youngest ever Singapore born paddler to win 3 Gold medals at a single SEA Games, clinching the Men’s Singles and Doubles titles, and helping the Men’s team clinch gold.
The STTA is proud to honour Izaac with the STTA Star Player of the Year 2023 for his achievements.
