table tennis

best of 5, which block would last till the finals?

The table tennis tables were set up immediately after IBG opening to kick start Inter-Block games 10/11.

With little time to train leading to the hasty selection of players, each block sent players with as much ping pong experience as they could find.

And with that, the games begun.

A versus C

Overall result:

block A wins 3 - 2 over block C

Men's singles:

Xue Bin (A) vs Jing Wei (C)

with unorthodox playing style, freshie C-towner got a heads up winning the first 2 sets by 11-7 and 11-8

but Xue Bin's fighting spirit together with the opponent's careless mistakes here and there took the game winning the next three sets by 11-9, 11-5 and 11-3.

Block A wins 3-2

Mixed doubles:

Melissa Liew & Chan How (A) vs Xia Lin & Matthew (C)

Unfazed by the previous game, Block C steps up for the doubles confident with their strong doubles pair.

With much speed, agility and great smashes, Block C takes home the first two sets with 11-7 and 11-3.

Unwilling to give up, Block A's doubles fights back to a close margin for the third set.

It was however not enough, ending the game coming close at 10-12.

Block C wins 3-0

Women's single:

Hui Qing (A) vs Qiu Ping (C)

With two experienced table tennis players from both sides, you could tell the difference in the game as both played calmly and with much style and less aggressive as compared to the younger ones.

The first set was very tight but eventually went to block C with 12-10 from the deuce at the end of the set.

Following on, both girls won sets alternately with Hui Qing taking the second set and Qiu Ping taking the third set, both at 11-7.

Maybe the heat from the un-airconditioned MPSH and fatigue kicked in and Qiu Ping lost some steam, leading to Hui Qing winning the game with 11-4, 11-7 for the last two sets.

Block A wins 3-2

Mixed doubles:

Yong Sheng & Chen Shu (A) vs Sooryun & Tie Xuan (C)

Finally an all-freshie team from both sides.

Gracing the game from Korea is Sooryun, an exchange student from block C.

However, with experienced player Yong Sheng from block A around, the Acers took the first two sets rather easily with 11-3 and 11-4.

The C-towners did not let them win so easily though, giving their all for the third set and winning it by 12-10.

However, the smash-filled fourth set eventually went to block A rounding up with 11-2.

Block A wins 4-1

Men's singles:

Swee Foo (C) vs Pei Ran (A)

Table tennis coach, Swee Foo, against senior player, Pei Ran.

You could tell the standard of their game from the back-to-back points both sides are gaining.

Rounding up the game, the coach proved his skill winning by 11-9, 11-5 and 11-9.

Block C wins 3-0

C versus D

Overall result:

block C wins 4 - 1 over block D

Men's singles:

James (D) vs Matthew (C)

It was clear that Matthew had the upperhand with his agressiveness and smashes, taking the game at 11-6, 11-0, 11-0.

Block C wins 3-0

Women's singles:

Adeline (D) vs Chee Mei (C)

With the two "seniors" literally, there were many long exchanges but the game eventually went to Adeline who had more control of the game, winning 11-1, 11-9, 11-0.

Block D wins 3-0

Mixed doubles:

Qi Hao & Li Min (D) vs Jing Wei & Qiu Ping (C)

It was a fast game with the quick smashes from Jing Wei and the slightly uncoordinated pair from block D.

Hence block C swept off this game with 11-3, 11-3 and 11-2.

Block C wins 3-0

Men's singles:

Tie Xuan (C) vs Daniel (D)

Despite having a toe injury, D-blockers Daniel took the challenge to come against Tie Xuan from block C for this last determining set.

The C-towners eventually won the game by 11-5, 11-4, 11-3.

Block C wins 3-0

FINALS

B versus C

Champion - Block C

Men's singles:

Yong Zhou (B) vs Swee Foo (C)

For the finals, the best of 3 wins.

With both very experienced and skilled players from both sides in the game, the scores were tight.

If you were there, you would have heard their grunts with each point they got (think Maria Sharapova).

Swee Foo took the first set at 11-9.

But the second set came hard since the competitive spirits of both players showed and you start seeing their smashes and aggressiveness.

However, block C persevered and eventually won the set at 11-8.

Block C wins 2-0

Mixed doubles:

Visoth & Zheng Jun (B) vs Jing Wei & Xia Lin (C)

Tough fight between the two pairs with great speed and agility coming from both sides.

The slightly stronger pair from block C however overcame the first set with 11-8, closing the game at a narrow 4 point gain for the second set with 11-8.

Block C wins 2 - 0

Men's Single:

Maben(B) vs Matthew(C)

Both highly skilled players battled each other in a game of intense ping pong. Every part of the ping pong table was fully utilised with both guys taking inch perfect touches with every rally. Within the first few rallies it was clear who was the stronger of the two titans. Matthew took and early lead and pulled away easily in both sets. Winning 11 - 5, 11 - 4. Cries of Matthewlaynomorechaohaii was heard from Matthew's biggest fan, Yunyi.

Mixed Doubles:

Yao Hen and Kang Jia (B) vs Qiu Ping Pong and Tie Xuan(C)

Arguably the most exciting match of the finals, both teams were evenly matched. Blk C mixed doubles superstar Qiu Ping Pong and Tie Xuan fired off with a great start taking the first set 11 - 2. Many thought this would be a quick and easy game for the C-Towners but perserverance and determination from Yao Hen and Kang Jia allowed them to fight back to win the second set marginally at 11 - 9. The nail biting final set was played late into the night with both teams exhausted from all the previous matches. Qiu Ping and Tie Xuan seemed to have lost their concentration as they allowed the Beekers to take an early lead in the game at 7 - 1. Blk C never gave up and continued to fight back. Remarkably, Qiu Ping and Tie Xuan regained their footing and fought till a 10 - 10 draw from a 6 point deficit. The win was still in sight for both of these young stars. After a heart stopping display of brilliant table tennis, the C-Towners took the winning set 14 - 12. Good Job C-Towners.

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Whatever results your block got for table tennis, remember that there're still many sports coming up and don't be dismayed by today's sports because it is afterall just interblock games and what we want is for all of you to have fun as well as experience playing new sports and mingle with your block mates!

"Friendly friendly arh!" (:

Anyhow, hope to see more of you in the coming games!