SINGAPORE'S table tennis players comprising Clarence Chew, Tay Jit Kiat, both 13, Isabelle Li and Chau Hai Qing, both 14, were due to open their Group D campaign against the Philippines at 10.15am on Wednesday.

But minutes before the start of their mixed team competition at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall, organisers decided to postpone that tie, and Singapore's 12.45pm match against Nepal.

This, after Clarence and Jit Kiat had been identified on Tuesday night as potential close contacts with a confirmed H1N1 case - national youth teammate Kerry Tan, 14, who is not in the AYG squad.

Kerry was diagnosed with the H1N1 flu on Monday.

The two fixtures were rescheduled to the afternoon when it was determined that both Clarence and Jit Kiat had not come into close contact with Kerry.

The Singapore team went on to beat both the Philippines and Nepal 3-0.

Both the Philippines and Nepal supported the move, although they were kept waiting for as long as 40 minutes before they received news of the postponement.

Filipino paddler Ian Lariba, 14, said: 'I'd rather play against Singapore than receive a walkover. Competing against them is one way for us to test ourselves.'

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.