Quartet bag hard-earned table tennis bronze medal
FOUR unlikely women combined to deliver a bronze in table tennis for Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MiTEC).
The quartet won the T1-T5 category when they completed their round-robin matches with one win and two losses.
They defeated Singapore 3-2 in a hard-fought battle yesterday. Earlier, they were beaten 3-0 by both Indonesia and Thailand.
The four — Azila Alias (44), Tan Kee Chok (36), Chung Sow Fun (58) and Chow Mei Hsia (39) — were excited to bag the bronze.
Debutant Azila said it was a good start to her table tennis career.
“This is the first time I am representing Malaysia and what a way to start. I’m excited. I have one more event in the singles. Hopefully I can also do well in that event,” she gushed.
Kee Chok and Sow Fun have taken part in the Para Games before, win- ning medals in the Singapore Games in 2015.
Tee Chok won a silver in the singles and a bronze in the doubles while Sow Fun got two silvers in the team and singles.
Sow Fun is also the most experienced player, having been with the national team for the last 10 years.
“This has been a tough competition, so it was good to have won a medal. All of us are also playing in the singles and we are looking forward to it. I personally would like to finish higher on the podium,” she said.
Mei Hsia is also making her debut, but she is no stranger to competing in Para Games.
She competed in the 800m wheelchair race, winning a gold at the World Para Games in Manchester four years ago.
Mei Hsia also used to take part in wheelchair tennis before switching to table tennis.
“I was not able to continue with the other two events, that’s why I switched to table tennis. I like sports in general and have no problems adapting to new events.
“I feel happy to be part of the team. We have a good understanding and the bronze is a good encouragement for me, personally,” she said.