TTAM set realistic target of one bronze at SEA Games

KUALA LUMPUR: The Table Tennis Association of Malaysia (TTAM) are targeting just one bronze medal at the Philippines SEA Games in November.

And they hope 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bronze medallists Ho Ying-Karen Lyne can rise to the occasion again.

TTAM vice-president Dr Chin Kuen Liang said they set a modest target based on the current performance of the paddlers.

“If possible, we want to win more but this is a realistic target because countries like Singapore use foreign players, so they are stronger than us. Moreover, there are no team event this time, making the task more difficult,” he said after a working committee meeting with the National Sports Council here yesterday.

Malaysia will be represented by four men and four women players in the five events to be contested – men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Chin revealed that the TTAM have appointed a new head coach, Mu Tong from China, last month.

“He is the former coach of Japan’s Ai Fukuhara, who won a silver at the 2012 London Olympics and bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He has also arranged some competitions and training stints for our players in China.

“We will be sending the paddlers to the Commonwealth Championships in India (June) and Asian Championship in Bali (September) in preparation for the Games,” he added.

Chin said the line-up for the Games will be decided in June.

At the 2017 KL SEA Games, table tennis delivered two bronze medals through the men’s and women’s team events from the seven events contested.

Singapore topped the competition with five golds, while Thailand and Vietnam won one gold each. — Bernama