Malaysia table tennis athletes (from left) Javen Choong, Wong Qi Shen, Karen Lyne Dick and Tee Ai Xin posing with their respective SEA Games medals. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
BANGKOK: It was not gold, but it was priceless. After all, it was Malaysia's first appearance in the table tennis mixed doubles final in 58 years.
Wong Qi Shen-Tee Ai Xin bagged silver after going down 6-11, 7-11, 2-11 to Singapore’s Zeng Jian-Koen Pang at the Westgate Hall in Central Westgate, Nonthaburi.
They emulated the fear of Lim Hee Peng and Chong Siok Fong, who also claimed silver in 1967 in Thailand, when it was still called the SEAP Games.
The silver medal was also a confidence boost for Qi Shen-Ai Xin.
"Both of us competed in the singles event in the last SEA Games (in Cambodia in 2023 and lost in the quarter-finals at the 2021 (Hanoi) edition," said Ai Xin.
"This time, he chose to compete in mixed doubles with me, and I want to thank him for partnering with me in such an important tournament. "Our target was winning gold but we accept the outcome."
"No matter the colour of the medal, we gave our best, and I am very grateful to everyone who supported and helped us."
Meanwhile, another mixed doubles pair Choong Javen-Karen Lyne settled for bronze after falling 9-11, 5-11, 4-11 to Zeng Jian-Koen in the last four.
Ai Xin also partnered Karen to clinch bronze in the women’s doubles after suffering a narrow 11-5, 10-12, 7-11, 11-9, 13-11 defeat to hosts Orawan Paranang-Suthasini Sawettabut in the semi-finals. Both the men’s and women’s teams had already won bronze medals earlier in the tournament.
Meanwhile, paddler Karen Lyne had to settle for two bronze medals after bowing out in the semi-finals of the mixed doubles and women's doubles.
Karen and her mixed doubles partner Choong Javen found Singaporeans Jian Zeng-Koen Pang too hot to handle and went down 9-11, 5-11, 4-11 in the last four.
Although they missed out on a spot in the final, it was still a remarkable feat from Javen-Karen as it has been 16 years since Malaysia have a representative in the semi-finals.
The last Malaysian pair to reach the last four were Mohd Shakirin Ibrahim-Beh Lee Wei, who also claimed bronze at the 2005 Philippines edition.
Karen had hoped to clear the semis with Tee Ai Xin in the women's doubles but were knocked out too.
Despite a spirited fight, they suffered a narrow 11-5, 10-12, 7-11, 11-9, 13-11 defeat to hosts Orawan Paranang-Suthasini Sawettabut in a nail-biting match.
