#Won 3rd singles match to bring ITTF Hopes team into Final in nail biting match
Malaysia’s upcoming Under 15 table tennis player 13-year old Lee Xin Ni has done the country proud when she sealed the win in her 3rd singles match over Poland in the semi-finals at 2019 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Wladyslawowo, Poland. With the win, the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) Hopes team went into the Final to meet team Europe.
A total 8 teams from Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, Oceania, Hopes, and host team Poland participated in 2019 ITTF World Cadet Challenge held from 26 -28 October, 2019. Players for the tournament were selected from the Continental Junior Championships, World Rankings, or coaches’ decisions from each continent.
Lee Xin Ni has been selected by ITTF to be a member for the 2019 World Hopes Team since 14 August, 2019. ITTF Hopes Programme is a series of events at national, regional, continental and world level featuring education, training camps, competition and talent identification.
Selected Hopes team players must demonstrate qualities of sportsmanship, such as training ethics, respect for other players, coaches and teamwork.
At the 2019 ITTF World Cadet Challenge, Xin Ni played in two key matches that helped ITTF Hopes team finished as group champion and thereafter in the semi-finals sealing ITTF Hopes team a Final outing.
In the 3rd group match against Latin America, Xin Ni playing as 3rd singles, beat Latin America player Divina Ding 3-0 (11-4,11-5,11-8). ITTF Hopes team went on to win 4-1 to be group champion. In the semi-finals playoff against Poland, Xin Ni again played 3rd singles and won 3-2 in an exciting, gruelling match, showing her steel despite under pressure to bring in the winning point. Xin Ni won her match 8-11, 12-10,11-8, 6-11,11-9 against Polish player Ilona Sztwiertnia. ITTF Hopes team went on to win 3-1 against Poland.
The rest of Hopes team members are Ser Li Qian (Singapore), Sophie Earley (Ireland) and Emily Tan (USA).
Hopes team, however, lost 0-3 to team Europe in the Finals. Xin Ni did not play in the Final.
Said TTAM Vice President, Dr. Chin Kuen Liang, “Although Xin Ni did not get to play in the Final match, she has shown exemplary and commendable attitude and progress. There’s always a tremendous pressure playing in the 3rd singles to bring in the winning point and Xin Ni did it, demonstrating much maturity and skills in the two important matches.”
TTAM’s reinvention exercise, he said which focuses on emulating a “high impact performance” model is showing results.
“We are pleased that TTAM’s plan to have smooth succession of players to become podium abled athletes of world standing, is moving in the right direction,” said Dr. Chin.
