"第二十屆亞洲錦標賽" 已於3月1日在澳門成功舉辦，本會女隊除帖雅娜及姜華珺兩位大師姐外, 亦派出3名後起之秀女子球員于國詩, 李皓晴及吳穎嵐參加是次賽事，並在女子團體賽中有令人驚喜的表現。 她們在女團八強賽中雖負於日本，但在5-8名的名次賽中先後戰勝朝鮮及中華台北，取得第五名，外界對她們的傑出表現均有高度評價。
No Medals but Hong Kong Girls Complete Team Event as True Champions
By: Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
02/25/2012 2012 Asian Championships 2011
Defeat at the quarter-final stage of the Women's Team event on the opening day of play; they were beaten by Japan.
Two days later, Hong Kong departed the arena in the East Asia Games Dome late on the morning of Saturday 25th February 2012 as champions, true champions.
Yu Kwok See, Lee Ho Ching and Ng Wing Nam departed heads held high, as the local media massed for interviews.
They were treated as local heoines; they reside just one hour by jetfoil frm the ferry port in Taipa, the area of Macau which is hosting the Asian Table Tennis Championships.
Local Girls
True champions, they are all born and bred in Hong Kong; they have learned their table tennis skills in what is now a Special Administrative Region of China.
None have been imported.
Learned Skills in China
The likes of Tie Yana, Jiang Huajun, Lin Ling and Zhang Rui, who have formed the Hong Kong Team for the past decade and more are all fine players, fine people and they represent Hong Kong with pride and determination.
However, all learned their skills in mainland China before crossing the border.
Response
Hong Kong has clearly responded to the recently introduced regulations for world title events, whereby a player cannot represent a different national association without serving an eligibility period - three years if under 15, five years in under 18, seven years if under 21 and older not allowed.
A response from Hong Kong and the trio Yu Kwok See, Lee Ho Ching and Ng Wing Nam has responded.
Only Lee Ho Ching Won
In the three-one defeat at the hands of Japan, the one winner for Hong Kong was Lee Ho Ching; she beat Sayaka Hirano.
Tie Yana lost to both Ai Fukuhara and Kasumi Ishikawa; whilst Jiang Huajun also suffered in opposition to Ai Fukuhara.
Fifth Highest Possible
Defeat in the quarter-finals meant that the highest possible finish was fifth place; the highest possible finish was achieved.
Li Huifen, the Women's National Team coach selected the trio of Lee Ho Ching, Ng Wing Nam and Yu Kwok See to play against DPR Korea, a country with a fine track record in female table tennis.
Rose to Occasion
Determined, the trio rose to the occasion; they played with a delightful freedom to record a three-one win. Lee Ho Ching, the runner up the previous week in the Under 21 Women's Singles event at the GAC GROUP 2012 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open, was the star of the performance.
She remained unbeaten, accounting for Kim Jong (10-12, 11-1, 11-5, 11-6) and Kim Hye Song (11-6, 11-9, 11-5); the one further win came when Ng Wing Nam recovered from a two games to nil deficit tp beat Kim Hye Song (9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-6).
The defeat for Hong Kong in the fixture against DPR Korea was suffered by Yu Kwok See but it was a very close reverse. She was beaten in five games (15-17, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8) by the defensive skills of Ri Myong Sun.
Thought No Chance
Against Kim Jong I didn't think I had any chance of winning, I just tried my best and tried to be relaxed, explained Lee Ho Ching. When I played Kim Hye Song my feeling for the ball was good; that was important.
Faced Chinese Taipei
A three-one success against DPR Korea meant a contest against Chinese Taipei to determine fifth place.
In a fixture against a country who also fielded a home-grown team and a young team, a second three-one success was recorded.
The one defeat was inflicted by the very impressive Chen Szu-Yu; she beat the previous day heroine, Lee Ho Ching (8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4) in the third match of the duel.
Unforced Errors
Maybe I was just too relaxed today, reflected Lee Ho Ching. I made too many mistakes.
However, Ng Wing Nam rose to the occasion. She beat Cheng I-Ching (11-7, 11-6, 11-9) and Chen Szu-Yu (13-11, 11-5, 14-12), with the one other win coming from Yu Kwok See. In the third match of the fixture, she accounted for Liu Hsing-Yun (11-6, 3-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11.5).
Won All Matches
Notably in the whole Women's Team event, all the matches won by Hong Kong were won by players born, bred and coached in Hong Kong;
Tie Yana and Jiang Huajun did not win one match! Ng Wing Nam remained unbeaten whilst for Lee Ho Ching and Ng Wing Nam it was just one defeat each.
Bridging the Gap
However, it is unrealistic to suggest that Tie Yana and Jiang Huajun will not be selected in the future.
They are the best two players and they meet all the necessary rules and regulations but how soon will it be before the two stars are replaced by the likes of Lee Ho Ching, Ng wing Nam and Yu Kowk See?
Mentally Better
There is a gap, said Lee Ho Ching. Mentally they are better than us, they have more experience, they know when to change the tactics; they know they can beat players of our level.
There is a gap but it is closing.
Also, when it's 10-all we can become nervous, added Lee Ho Ching. Tie Yana and Jiang Huajun believe in themselves when it's close; they believe they will win.
Both Yu Kwok See and Ng Wing Nam agreed with Lee Ho Ching that the big difference was one of mentality.
More Secure
I need to be safer in my play, better at blocking and stronger on the first attack after my service, explained Yu Kwok See; again very much in agreement with Lee Ho Ching, who was of the opinion that the main area she needed to improve was her ability to block from the backhand.
It's a question of maturity, added Ng Wing Nam who was in total agreement with her two friends. We need to learn when to adapt, when to play safe, when to take risks.
Winners
No place on the medal rostrum; that privilege belonged to China, Singapore, Korea and Japan but Hong Kong left the arena as winners, true winners, Hong Kong through and through.
English Speaking
Furthermore, they answered the questions from the press in Cantonese and my questions in English, Yu Kowk See fluent, Lee Ho Ching confident; that can only be good for the promotion of table tennis.
Small in stature but in Macao Lee Ho Ching, Ng Wing Nam and Yu Kwok See stood tall.
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Lee Ho Ching, just one defeat out of four visits to the table Photo By: Timothy Wu |
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Ng Wing Nam was the mainstay of Hong Kong's success against Chinese Taipei Photo By: An Sung Ho |
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Tie Yana an first team choice but she has challrngers Photo By: Timothy Wu |
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Jiang Huajun has the experience, she knows when to adapt Photo By: Timothy Wu |
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Yu Kwok See in form against Chinese Taipei Photo By: Pablo Rubio |
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