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Clean sweep for Singapore paddlers at SEA Games

NAYPYIDAW — The Republic have captured all four gold medals at the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar after victories in the men’s and women’s singles today (Dec 21).

NAYPYIDAW – The familiar strains of Majulah Singapura was heard four times at the Wunna Theikdi indoor stadium today (Dec 21), as Team Singapore's paddlers clinched all four gold medals on offer to retain their spot as the top table tennis nation in the region.

With two gold secured in the men's and women's team events on Thursday, Zhan Jian and Yu Mengyu claimed another two gold in the singles on the final day of competition in Myanmar.

World No 30 Zhan Jian was first to claim the title after defeating Vietnam's Tien Dat Le 11-6, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4 in the men's singles final. SEA Games debutant Clarence Chew was awarded the joint-bronze with Richard Gonzales of the Philippines after his semi-final loss to Vietnam's Tien.

Said Zhan Jian, who is competing in his first SEA Games: “I was quite nervous as this is my first SEA Games, but I am happy to win this for Singapore.”
It was an all Singaporean final in the women's singles, with Yu Mengyu claiming the Republic's final gold after a 4-0 victory over Isabelle Li. “I had never played singles before this SEA Games so I feel very happy winning two gold medals,” said Yu, who is competing in her third SEA Games.

Local teenager Isabelle had dispatched Malaysian veteran Beh Lee Wei 4-0 to qualify for the final, and the 19-year-old was happy to be able to repeat her silver-medal achievement from the 2011 Indonesian Games. “I have not played the Malaysian before and she is a seasoned player who has competed at many SEA Games,” said Isabelle after the award ceremony. “This victory over the Malaysian is definitely a boost to my confidence. It (the silver medal) gives me motivation to close up the gap between me and my teammates (like Mengyu). I have a good playing and training environment and I'm hoping to defer my university studies to train full-time next year.”

Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) president Lee Bee Wah was delighted with the team's performance, as she said: “They exceeded my target (three gold) and I told them that what I want to see is their fighting spirit and they didn't disappoint me.”

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