Table Tennis (F)

KE vs RH: 3 - 2

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KE vs EH: 0 - 5

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The guys and girls’ table tennis teams played against KR and TH, and RH and EH respectively on the 20th of Jan 07 at MPSH 2.

I arrived at the SRC at 1 pm,to find both captains (Deng Shuo and Wen Jun) in deep discussion - trying to settle their opening lineup while watching the matches proceed. Unfortunately, KE was not playing the first few matches, and it was 3 pm before the games finally started.

Yu Ye played the first singles against RH. She had vociferous support from her teammates, other Keviians and even some old-time seniors, like Ke Yao and Bai Wei who came back to watch their juniors play. Despite her best efforts, she was outclassed by her more experienced opponent (0-3).

The 1st girls doubles, Tang Pan and Deng Shuo, likewise went down 0-3 to their opponents, but put up a spirited show. Things started looking up for the girls team when Chun Yan reversed the trend with a very competent 3-0 victory in the 2nd singles match. Her experience showed, and her control and speed, aided by her opponent’s nerves and unforced errors, made this a quick match.

Cheered by Chun Yan’s victory, Wang Liao and Yue Xing gave us all an extremely exciting match, as they were evenly matched with the other team, having one more experienced and one less experienced player each. Jittery spectators on both sides followed the match intensely, and small details like a ball served from the wrong court or a serve thrown too low in the air were sufficient to provoke the crowd to loud debate. The score went to 3-2 in our favor, and it was a nail biting finish as the last set finally came down to 12-10. The doubles was so tense that Wang Liao didn’t realize she had hit the winning shot until the team erupted in cheers around her. Ke Yao turned to me and tapped his chest, “Lucky I don’t have a heart problem!”

We had now won 2 matches to be even with RH’s two. The deciding match would be the 3rd singles. Yue Yi, as the most experienced and skilled player in the team, was expected to have good odds against the RH player. However the strain of the moment was evident in her face, and
she made several unforced errors in the first set. She regained her momentum and won the 2nd set. Soon we were in a repeat of the last match, a crucial set in which the scores of each player appeared to be taking turns to go up. Each point she won was a victory, not only
against her opponent but also against her nerves - no mean feat as the match was just as intense as the previous one had been, punctuated by increasingly frequent calls for time-outs. Small details like the ball not being tossed high enough during service again gained great importance, as they could determine the outcome of the match! Despite a dubiously disputed call (on the very last point!) by RH, she prevailed to win 3-2 to the great joy and relief of her team.

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Table Tennis (M)

KE vs KR: 1 - 4

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KE vs TH: 1 - 4

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Meanwhile, the guys’ team had also begun their matches against KR. Kane lost the first singles (0-3) to the more experienced KR player, but he tried his best. Then Zhi Yong and Gerber won the 1st doubles handily with 4-1. They dominated the match all the way as they had a faster spin, were quite experienced and good at attacks, and were playing aggressively.

I was unable to catch the 2nd singles played by Li Ling as the highwire act that was Yue Yi’s 3rd single match was still going on. He played against a very strong opponent and lost 0-3, but showed plenty of spirit.

The second doubles were the deciding match for the guys team - if they did not win this match, KE would lose. Shengqiu and Wen Yuan fought for each point and took the supporters to the edge of cardiac arrythmia once again, as we watched another rubber set being played. The entire girls team was arrayed behind them, which puzzled me as I thought they would rather have the players see them supporting them. Then I noticed the placards they were holding, “We are behind you!”. Ah. Despite the fervent and furious support from their fellow Keviians, the second doubles did not go our way, and they lost 2-3. Anyone who has ever accused KE sportsmen of bo-chapness would have to withdraw that accusation entirely if they had seen the grief with which this result was greeted, and the comradeship with which the players comforted each other.

The 3rd singles, played by Wong Teng Fei, was less consequential but he did his best, ultimately losing 1-4.

The afternoon had already been one of high drama, with elation and bitter disappointment all mixed in together. The girls team was safely in the semis after their win over RH, but the guys had a fight for survival with TH, who had also lost their first match against KR.
The girls eventually lost to EH, and the guys to TH.

- Lydia

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Editor’s note:
It was a good show from every member of KE table tennis as they often found themselves unevenly matched with more experienced players from other halls, including IVP players, but soldiered on bravely nonetheless and gave their best all the way. The girls were rewarded by an emotional win over Raffles Hall - the best sign of a team that has invested much time and labour into training together. This could not have been accomplished without the dedication of all those who came back to train the players - Wen Jun, Li Ling and Bai Wei (captain 2 years ago).

The guys too made a commendable effort despite last-minute changes to the doubles pairings, which meant that they were not playing with the partners whom they had diligently trained with during the holidays, a handicap which might have cost them a victory. This was a bitter disappointment to some, notably to guys’ captain Wen Jun (Shengqiu’s usual doubles partner), whose patient devotion to KE table tennis and resolve to stick with his team through IHG were left unfulfilled as he was not allowed to play in the IHG on a technicality, making this a bittersweet prelims for this responsible ‘face of table tennis’ in hall. Adding to the misfortune, Su Shu, who would have played if he had not recently sprained an ankle, had to sit out the game, watching the rise and fall of the scores in some distress!

That said, our victory over Raffles reflects well on the spirit and diligence of the players, and the time and effort invested by the seniors in polishing them up to competition standard.

Thanks to all the supporters who went to watch although KE’s matches started late!
The semis will be at 8pm on 24 Jan (Wed) in MPSH 2. See you there!

- Joanna

After postponement due to rain last week, softball players from all the halls were hopeful that they could finally get the IHG underway! KE was drawn in the same group as Temasek and Sheares- two powerhouses of softball. However, after all the hard training, some players in the KE camp felt that we might just pull off an upset to sneak into the semi finals.