SINGAPORE - The national men’s table tennis team is set to lose one of its best young talents after a surprise decision by paddler Chen Feng to retire at the age of 23.

TODAY has learnt that the two-time SEA Games gold medallist - who competed in the Rio Olympics last year - will be retiring from the men’s team to spend more time with his mother, who is in ill health.

Chen confirmed the news on Friday (Feb 10) and the world No 122 paddler told TODAY: “It is after much consideration that I have decided to retire from my professional career. This decision does not come easily or without regret as Singapore has given so much to me.”

Chen had left his home in Hebei at the age of seven to join China’s youth provincial team before packing his bags for Singapore eight years later. He obtained his Singapore citizenship in 2013.

With his mother in ill health, Chen’s family had requested for him to return to Hebei to spend more time with them.

He added: “It has been many years since I got to spend time with my family. During my recent visit to my parents’ house, I realised that they are no longer young and energetic. They mean a lot to me and I realise that I can no longer take them for granted.”

When contacted by TODAY, Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) president Ellen Lee said: “It is regrettable that Chen Feng has to leave us. While it is very unfortunate that he had to retire because of his family commitments, we understand his responsibility to his family.”

Chen’s departure will be a blow to the national team, who had recently lost veteran players Yang Zi, Zhan Jian and Ma Liang to injuries.

Last October, the STTA sacked former world junior champion Li Hu from the team for disciplinary issues. Just days later, the national sports association axed its top female paddler, world No 4 Feng Tianwei, from the women’s team as it cited the need for team rejuvenation.

While they may have lost one of its young players, the national men’s team has welcomed the return of local-born paddler Pang Xuejie to its fold.

Pang, 24, who completed his National Service with the Singapore Police Force in mid-2016, decided this week to commit himself to training and competing full-time with the team.

Pang, who won the men’s team gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and SEA Games men’s doubles title in 2011, had decided to take the plunge in a bid for glory at the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in August.

“Table tennis is my passion,” he told TODAY. “I love the sport and I have played it for more than twenty years and it has become a big part of my life.

“My immediate plan is to train hard and qualify for the 2017 SEA Games and I will do my best for Singapore.”