Sock Khim confident of getting good results after China stint

VETERAN Ng Sock Khim hopes the successful two-month training stint in China will thrust the national table tennis team to greater heights at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games from Aug 19-30.

The women’s team – consisting of seven-time Games veteran Sock Khim, Lee Rou You, Ho Ying, Alice Chang and Ting Hie Phin – are based in Hebei while the men – Mohd Shakirin Ibrahim, Mohd Ashraf Haiqal, Leong Chee Feng, Wong Chun Chuen and Chong Javen – train in Beijing. The two squads went to China on June 19. They will return to Malaysia today.

Armed with new-found confidence, the 33-year-old Sock Khim is optimistic of scoring upset wins over defending champion Suthasini Sawettabut of Thailand and Singapore’s world No. 6 Feng Tianwei.

“The coaches in China taught us a lot, working on our physical conditions, skills and the mental aspects of the game,” said Sock Khim.

“And we also attend sessions with coaches of different playing styles to help us tackle our Games opponents,” she added.

For Sock Khim, she hopes to stay injury-free throughout the Games.

“I now pay a lot of attention to my shoulder and knee exercises,” said Sock Khim, who underwent a tennis elbow injury last year and four right knee surgeries since 2009.

Malaysia are targeting three bronzes – two from the men and women’s teams and one from Sock Khim in women’s singles.

“I believe we can achieve our goal and maybe do even better,” said Sock Khim, a singles silver medallist in Korat 2007 and Singapore 2015.

Sock Khim has an extra motivation to do well as this will be her last SEA Games. She plans to retire from the sport after the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, next April.

The soft-spoken paddler is confident that her younger teammates are capable to take over the mantle.

“Both Ho Ying and Rou You are only 22 and they’ve got good potential,” said Sock Khim.