WINNING STARTS
(Paddlers Are On Track For Success)
By Jeannette Xavier
Picture by TS Photography Team in Vientiane
Team Singapore's paddlers, on a quest to repeat their complete sweep of the gold medals at the last SEA Games, enjoyed winning starts at the National University Convention Hall in Vientiane yesterday (Dec 8).
Singapore 3 Laos 0
The women, as expected, were just far too strong for their opponents, beating Laos and Vietnam to earn a semi-final spot in the team event. In the tie against Laos, Yu Mengyu gave us a fine start with an easy 11-7, 11-5, 11-2 win over Seangdavieng Douangpanya. Sun Beibei was a bit tentative at first but still prevailed over Seangdavanh Doungpanya in the end, winning 11-8, 11-5, 11-3. Zena Sim (pictured) then took apart Thippakone Southammavong 11-2, 11-1, 11-2 to give Singapore a dominant 3-0 victory. And that was achieved without our top two players, world No. 6 Feng Tianwei and world No. 13 Wang Yuegu.
Singapore 3 Vietnam 0
In the encounter against Vietnam, Wang defeated Mai Hoang My Trang 11-2, 11-7, 11-1 while Feng proved far too good for Mai Xuan Hang as she won 11-5, 11-7, 12-10. Then Zena earned yet another victory, beating Pham Thi Thien Kim 11-9, 11-4, 6-11, 11-2 to give Singapore its second 3-0 triumph.
What's Next
The girls will next play their final group match against the Philippines. In the men's team event, there was a little scare for Singapore as the Philippines' Richard Gonzales, the 2007 SEA Games singles silver medallist, beat Yang Zi 8-11, 13-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-9. But our boys recovered to post a 3-1 win and will face Indonesia and Cambodia today.