Karen-Tee aim to smash 34-year wait for gold at SEA Games

PETALING JAYA: More tournament exposure has fired up national women’s doubles pair Karen Lyne-Tee Ai Xin to end Malaysia’s 34-year wait for gold in table tennis at the SEA Games in Bangkok

Karen-Ai Xin made history last month when they won the World Table Tennis (WTT) Feeder Vientiane in Laos, becoming the first Malaysian paddlers to win a World Tour tournament.

The paddlers have since shifted focus to the Thailand SEA Games from Dec 9-20, and are confident of delivering the goods.

“From my observation over the past year, the team have shown a lot of improvement,” said Ai Xin.

“This year alone, we have gone to many overseas tournaments, and our fine performances have boosted our confidence ahead of the SEA Games.

“The gap with other countries like Thailand has been narrowed.”

Before winning in Laos last month, the pair had made their first final appearance on the World Tour at the Feeder Ototec 1 in Slovenia in March, but finished runners-up to Japan’s Hitomi Sato-Saki Shibata.

Head coach Beh Lee Wei echoed Ai Xin’s sentiments, adding that the team would not take their feet off the pedal.

“We have made it to the finals at the last two SEA Games, and the gold medal is very close,” said Lee Wei.

“The table tennis team have not won gold in more than three decades, so I hope the wait will end.”

Malaysia last won at the 1991 Manila edition when Phua Bee Sim-Chong Choi Ting emerged as the women’s doubles winners.

At the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, Malaysia returned with three silvers and two bronze medals.

The national team will head to India next to compete at the Asian Championships from Oct 11-15, and followed by the WTT Star Contender from Oct 21-26 in London.