Singapore’s Women’s table tennis team, made up of Zeng Jian, Ser Lin Qian, Loy Ming Ying, Zhang Wanling and Tan Zhao Yun, finished 8th in the 20-team event at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, as they fell to a 3-1 defeat to ASEAN rivals and defending SEA Games champions, Thailand, in the 7th and 8th Playoff match.

It was not a good start for the Republic, as Ser lost 3-0 to the Thai’s second-best player, Orawan Paranang, in straight games, 3-11, 8-11, 8-11.

The second singles was a rematch of the SEA Games 2023 final, as Singapore’s number one, Zeng Jian, squared off against Suthasini Sawettabut. Zeng raced into a 2-0 lead, taking the first two games, 11-9, 11-7. Suthasini briefly reduced the deficit, taking the third game 11-6. However, the Thai number one was not able to avenge her SEA Games defeat, with Zeng prevailing 11-8 in the fourth game to seal the 3-1 win.

With the tie level at 1-1, it was the battle of the 14-year-olds between Loy Ming Ying and Kulapassr Vijitvirayagul in the third singles. Having faced each other countless of times, both players were no strangers to each other. This time round though, it was the Thai youngster that had the upper hand, winning 3-0 in straight games (11-9, 11-7, 11-8).

Needing to keep Singapore in the tie, Zeng was up next against Orawan in the first of the reverse singles. However, the Singaporean could not find her groove against her Thai opponent, as she fell to a 2-11, 4-11, 6-11 defeat, giving Thailand the 3-1 win.

Singapore had won both their group matches, with Zhang, Zeng and Tan leading the team to a 3-0 win over Pakistan, and later, Ser, Zeng and Loy combining to beat Malaysia 3-1.

At 14, Loy became one of the youngest ever players to represent Singapore at the Asian Table Tennis Championships.

In the semi-finals, the Republic comfortably won against the Philippines, 3-0, which saw them progress to the Champions Division Quarterfinals.

Fielding a team of Ser, Loy and Tan, the young Singaporeans put on a brave fight against the eventual champions, Japan, with Loy taking one set off Mima Ito, and Tan taking Miu Hirano all the way to 5 games, in the 3-0 defeat.

A fantastic effort by the young team, who were without Zhou Jingyi, currently recuperating from her knee surgery. The result bodes well for the upcoming SEA Championships in November.