PETALING JAYA: Revenge could not have tasted any sweeter.
Penang’s table tennis players spent 10 days training in Bangkok, engaged a coach from China and endured two years of painstaking preparation and all for one goal – to go one better at the Malaysia Games (Sukma).
And they were duly rewarded on Thursday (Aug 20) when they avenged their previous defeat to Federal Territories with a convincing 3-0 victory to capture the team gold at the Majlis Bandaraya Diraja Klang Hall in Bukit Raja.
The team coached by China-born Li Chao, produced a dominant display, with Lai Yong Han putting Penang ahead with an 11-9, 11-9, 11-4 win over Im Jin Zhen.
Lai Yong Ren made it 2-0 by defeating Faieq Daiyan 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 and Richard Yap-Sia Zheng Xun then sealed the gold with an 11-8, 14-12, 11-6 victory over Wong Whai Xun-Yew Yan Bin.
For team captain Bosco Goh, the victory was especially satisfying after Penang had lost to Federal Territories in the final at the Sarawak Sukma two years ago.
“We have been preparing for this Sukma for almost two years, so it feels really good to win. Last month, we spent 10 days at Thonburi University training with their players," he said.
Bosco said they also trained with several players from China who were brought in by the Penang Table Tennis Association (PTTA) as sparring partners ahead of the Games.
"Our coach Li Chao, who joined us in June last year, has also been training us the way players in China train, with a very tough regime.
"It has been hard work, so I’m very happy that we managed to win the gold," said Bosco.
Federal Territories may have missed out on the men’s team gold, but they still had reason to celebrate after retaining their women’s team title.
Gan Ai Lis emerged as the hero for Federal Territories, winning the decisive match against Cheah Yu Zheng 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 10-12, 11-4 to seal a 3-1 victory and the gold medal.
"I stayed calm and didn’t think too much about anything. I just stuck to the same tactics until the end.
"It feels great because we also won the team gold two years ago, so it’s nice to be able to retain the title," said Ai Lis.
RESULTS
Men's team: Penang bt Federal Territories 3-0 (Lai Yong Han bt Im Jin Zhen 11-9, 11-9, 11-4; 2. Lai Yong Ren bt Faieq Daiyan 11-7, 11-9, 11-9; 3. Richard Yap-Sia Zheng Xun bt Wong Whai Xun-Yew Yan Bin 11-8, 14-12, 11-6).
Women's team: Federal Territories bt Selangor 3-1 (Gan Ai Lis bt Hun Hui Qi 5-11, 13-11, 11-2, 10-12, 11-7; 2. Chan Jing You lost to Cheah Yu Zheng 11-7, 6-11, 5-11, 6-11; 3. Ng Jia Wei-Wong Min Ni bt Voo Huan Kay-Voon Huan Xin 11-8, 11-7, 11-8; 4. Gan Ai Lis bt Cheah Yu Zheng 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 10-12, 11-4).
