Qualifying for Olympics is hard to do for paddlers Ng and Chiu

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Ng Sock Khim and Chiu Soo Jiin face an uphill task in their bid to qualify for the women’s singles in table tennis for the London Olympics in June.

The South East Asian Zone qualifier, the last qualifying event for the Olympics, is scheduled for Feb 4-5 in Bangkok but the two Malaysians will find the Singapore women’s paddlers tough to overcome.

Only the champion of the Bangkok qualifier will get a ticket to the Games.

Two players from Singapore, world women’s team champions in 2010, have already qualified for London based on their world rankings.

And they have a very good chance of winning a third spot through the qualifiers. Each country is allowed a maximum of three players for the Olympics.

Yesterday, the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia (TTAM) held an executive meeting to discuss qualification for the Olympics and other agenda for the year.

TTAM president Datuk Tang See Hang insisted that qualifying for the Olympics is the top priority.

“In order for that to happen we must overcome our closest rivals from Singapore. They have two players already down for the Games and will be hoping to earn a third place through the qualifier. Given their standard at international level, it will be tough for our two players to make it,” said See Hang.

Malaysia will also be sending only the women’s team for the 20th Asian Table Tennis Championships in Macau from Feb 23 to March 1.

Malaysia are also down to take part in the Liebherr World Team Championships in Germany from March 25 to April 1.

“The World Championships were supposed to be held last year in Lebanon.

“But due to political reasons, the event was postponed and is now being held in Macau,” said TTAM executive director Soong Poh Wah.

“The schedules are tight and the players have very little time in between the two tournaments so they have to prepare themselves well.”

TTAM have tentatively decided to send only the women’s team for the world meet because of financial constraints but may send the men’s team if they come up with the funds.

Currently, the men and women’s paddlers are coached by Kim Ju-su from North Korea and he has also brought two players from his country to spar with the national squad.

TTAM’S other national tournaments for the year are the 31st Malaysia Youth Championships in Kuala Lumpur, the 25th Malaysia Hopes Championships in Perlis and the Malaysia Championships in Negri Sembilan.