Reported by TONY LEE
Junior/Youth Development Consultant

A series of friendly matches were organised by myself between Wah Sing Table Tennis Academy and ACT Table Tennis Association at Canberra on Saturday, 18 December 1999.

WSTTA sent 3 teams to Canberra (1 men’s, 1 youth’s and 1 junior’s)and played against the respective ACT representative teams. Due to the lack of transport, we have to proceed in three groups. I led the youth team, arriving on Friday, 17 December 1999. The junior team arrived on Saturday lunchtime by train and the men’s team, led by Sam Lau (one of WS’s dedicated committee members)arrived around 4:00pm in the afternoon. I stayed with the junior and youth members overnight at Oxley Court Serviced Apartment, which is only a stone’s throw to the playing venue.

The matches were played at the home ground of ACTTTA at Kingston, a venue containing only 5 tables. While not big in size, the venue is permanent and open 7 days; something our Academy cannot match.

The venue was packed during the night with many parents coming to support their kids playing. Four out of six of the ACT junior/youth team members are of Asian origin. The results in the junior and youth matches are extremely close with many matches going to three sets. Our youth team (Charles Chau, Tony Bo, Danny Cheung) won close contest 6-5, while our junior team (Yian Sun, Vivian Yung, Jonathan Chak) lost 6-5. This indicates that the standards are very close between the 2 associations, especially given that a few of our main players are missing in action. Our youth team, led by Charles Chau who won 3 singles and 2 doubles, were generally in control and too experienced for the ACT team. Our junior team was unlucky in losing a few close matches, but continue to fight until the last match, eventually going down 6-5. One notable performer in the junior team is Yian Sun who played a unique blend of attack and defence to win all his 3 singles and 1 doubles. (For full details, see Results link)

Our men’s team (Sam Lau, David Feng, Wade Guo and Winson Tan)were beaten 8-3 which may in part due to the fatigue of travel. However all seem to have enjoyed the experience and have a wonderful time. The people at ACTTTA were extremely friendly and after the matches we have our pictures taken and exchange gifts. A plague was presented to the president of the ACTTTA and in exchange each of us received a Canberra pin. ACTTTA have promised to organise a return visit/tour to Sydney sometime in the year 2000 which is something we are looking forward to.

It is not surprising that ACT has produced a few very promising young players as their centre is permanent and open 7 days. Whilst Wah Sing may have the advantage in numbers, the quality of the ACT juniors are generally higher with very good basic skills and techniques. I agree with the president of ACTTTA, Glenys joliffe that these type of matches will benefit both associations in the future, especially our junior players, and I hope ACTTTA can fulfill their promise in coming to visit us in the very near future.

Under 19 Results

Under 17 Results