Battling show from Chee Feng-Ho Ying

SEA Games-bound Leong Chee Feng and Ho Ying produced a commendable performance to reach the mixed doubles main draw after negotiating tough qualifying rounds at the World Table Tennis Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany yesterday.

Chee Feng-Ho Ying defeated Estonia’s Vallot Vainula-Airi Avameri (11-8, 13-11, 11-5), Mongolia’s Bilegt BatkhishiqDoljinzuu Batbayar (11-3, 11-7, 115) and Sweden’s Kallberg siblings, Anton and Christina (11-9, 6-11, 13-11, 11-6) in the qualifiers for a spot in the main draw.

However, Chee Feng-Ho Ying failed to turn on the heat in the first round of the main draw, losing 11-7, 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 to Singapore’s Pang Xue Jie-Yu Mengyu.

The 19-year-old Chee Feng did decently in the men’s singles by winning his qualifying group to earn a berth in the pre-preliminary round.

However, Chee Feng was edged 7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8 by Singapore’s Ethan Poh in the opening round.

In the women’s singles, an injured Ting Hie Phin conceded a walkover to Kim Vermaas of the Netherlands in the opening prepreliminary round match.

National coach Beh Lee Wei hopes the exposure in Germany will offer her paddlers the confidence in the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in August.

“Nothing was expected from them in the world meet. I think they played to their abilities.

“They will return and resume their preparations for the Sea Games,” said Lee Wei yesterday.

A total of seven gold medals will be on offer in the Sea Games. Ajitpal Singh