THERE will be no glitter for the table tennis team in their return to the Asian Games after an eight-year hiatus.
National paddlers Wong Qi Shen and Choong Javen saw their medal hopes dashed in the third round of the Asian Games on Friday (Sept 25).
The world No. 136 pair fell 3-11, 9-11, 7-11 to Singapore’s 11th-ranked Koen Pang and Izaac Quek at the Sky Hall Toyota.
This marks their fourth straight loss to the Singaporean duo, who also pipped them to the gold at the 2025 SEA Games.
The early exit comes as a disappointment following the Malaysian pair's recent triumph at the Commonwealth Championships in New Delhi, where they upset world No. 2 Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah to claim the title.
Javen-Qi Shen had advanced to the third round after a hard-fought 11-4, 14-16, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4 victory over Qatar’s Sultan Al-Kuwari-Ahmed Korani.
In the singles event, Javen was eliminated in the second round by Taiwan’s world No. 41 Feng Yi-hsin, while Qi Shen exited in the first round against ninth seed Manush of India.
Despite the results, national coach Beh Lee Wei praised the duo's tenacity.
"They gave their best effort and showed good fighting spirit throughout the Games," Lee Wei said, adding that consistency remains a key area for improvement ahead of next year's home SEA Games.
"We need to improve our consistency, especially in the important points.
"They gained valuable experience here, and we will use these lessons to prepare better for the next competition.”
RESULTS
Men
Singles
Second Round: Feng Yi-hsin (Tpe) bt Javen Choong 11-6, 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7.
First Round: Manush Shah (Ind) bt Wong Qi Shen 11-9, 14-12, 11-7, 11-4; Javen Choong bt Zheng Hong Wai (Mac) 7-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-6, 11-5.
Doubles
Third Round: Koen Pang-Izaac Quek (Sin) bt Javen Choong-Wong Qi Shen 11-3, 11-9, 11-7.
Second Round: Javen Choong-Wong Qi Shen bt Sultan Al-Kuwari-Ahmed Korani (Qat) 11-4, 14-16, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4.
