Written by: Jared Rajiv Tan Sreedharan
Edited by: Angelina Grace Pandiman
Photos by: Eusoff Works
On a late Tuesday night, the Eusoff Table Tennis Female team kickstarted their IHG 21/22 journey matching up against PGP. With all the blood, sweat, and tears put into the countless hours of training, our girl’s Table Tennis team aimed to start off strong and get their first dub as a team. The format for the Preliminary matches in IHG table tennis, follow 3 singles matches and 2 doubles matches, each match played to a best of 5.
1st Single: Zening (W/L/W/W)
So for our first singles match representing EH was Zening, an IVP player with loads of experience under her belt. She started off strong, and had an answer to every point PGP got, she would claw her way back and keep it level pegging, until the last few points where she managed to pull away with the set 11-8. The support from her teammates helped, allowing Eusoff to win the battle on and off the court (mind games from the getgo). The second set was similar to the first where Zening replied with a point of her own each time, however, it was PGP who managed to pull away this time taking the second set 8-11. Despite losing the second set, she confidently steps up, by utilizing her spinning forehand serve to gain an advantage from the start. She managed to get several points in a row allowing her to calmly take the third set 11-7. Zening started off the fourth set with a service ACE giving her all the momentum needed to carry out the finishing blow and take our first game.
1st Doubles: Sze Han, Tina (W/W/W)
Our second match of the night was our strong doubles duo, consisting of our Sze Han (Captain) and Tina. A lineup that intimidated our opponents, to the point where I blinked and the first set was over, 11-2 in our favor. The second set starts and the hot streak continues as they rack up 4 points consecutively (although the scorekeeper don’t know how to count), props to PGP for pointing the error out, a good display of sportsmanship. The loud claps of the PGP bench did not phase our dynamic duo as our captain silenced the crowd with a sick backspin drop shot, as we claimed the second set 11-7. It was quite clear that their chemistry was there, showing that defense is indeed the best offense. Although they trailed for a bit in the third set, it was nothing Sze Han and Tina couldn’t handle, and they won with 11-7, winning us the second match.
SO MUCH FOCUS from Szehan and Tina wowowowow
2nd Single: Zonghan (W/W/W)
Our next athlete to take the stage was Zonghan, who began the match with insane spins left, right, and center. She took the first set like it was nothing and won with 11-1. PGP tried to come back stronger but was no match for Zonghan who was on a roll, as she rips the second set out of the grasp of PGP, winning with composure and class with 11-6. In the third set, PGP were up by 4-6, but the collected Zonghan replied with strong serves and beautifully placed shots of her own, which earned her the third set win and match.
2nd Doubles: Celine, Isabel (W/W/W)
Our second doubles match consisted of Isabel and Celine, looking confident and assertive from the warm-up itself. They grabbed the first 4 points with an array of nice cross-court shots and serves. PGP tried to come back, but they kept their distance and closed it out 11 to 7. The focal point of the second set was once again their serves, where they threw their opponents out of the system and converted their points effectively. Isabel and Celine comfortably took the set with 11-6. With the tides in our favor, they continued their unstoppable run and won the set by a large margin of 11-2.
3rd Single: Wannherng (W/W/W)
The last game of the night starred Eusoff’s Freshie Table Tennis ace Wannherng. The match started off fairly close, three apiece, however, Wannherng pulled away with her scary forehand topspin smashes, which sent the ball into a white blur, which was too hot for the opponent to handle. More of that merciless smashes continued to arrive in the second set, bullying her opponent into an 11-4 defeat. The fiery hits kept coming, smash after smash, and PGP could not find an answer, as Wannherng brought home the first victory for the EH Girls TT team in their 21/22 IHG Campaign.
yay good job Wannherng!!!
A blistering start for the EH TT girls team, as they aim to continue this winning streak. Catch them on eusoff_smc IG live or tune in to @ihgtabletennis next on the 18th of January at 9 pm as they face off against Sheares Hall.
First Single (Zening): 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6
Overall Set Score: 3-1 EH win
First Doubles (Sze Han and Tina): 11-2, 11-7, 11-7
Overall Set Score: 3-0 EH win
Second Single (Zonghan): 11-1, 11-6, 11-8
Overall Set Score: 3-0 EH win
Second Doubles (Isabel and Celine): 11-7, 11-6, 11-2
Overall Set Score: 3-0 EH win
Third Singles (Wannherng): 11-7, 11-,4, 11-5
Overall Set Score: 3-0 EH win
OVERALL SCORE: 5-0 EH Win
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