KUALA LUMPUR: The national men’s team continued their revival by winning a silver medal at the Southeast Asian Table Tennis Championships in Bangkok today.
The team, silver medallists in the Hanoi Sea Games, were edged 3-2 by Thailand in the final.
En route to the final, the Javen Choong-led Malaysia defeated Indonesia 3-0 in the semi-finals.
Paddlers Leong Chee Feng, Wong Qi Shen and Lee Yong Yi made up the Malaysian men’s team.
The men’s team had created a huge upset in the Sea Games by reaching the final after 29 years.
The women’s team, comprising Alice Chang, Tee Ai Xin, Im Li Ying and Karen Lyne, meanwhile, claimed the bronze after losing 3-2 to Thailand in the semi-finals.
Thailand defeated favourites Singapore 3-1 in the final.
Malaysia also clinched two bronze through the women’s singles (Karen) and doubles (Karen-Ho Ying) events.
National coach Beh Lee Wei was pleased with the results, which will offer confidence when her paddlers head to the Birmingham Commonwealth Games next month.
“We were only aiming for medals in the team events, but managed to record podium finishes in the individual events as well,” said Lee Wei today.
