SINGAPORE - Singapore's table tennis teams have cruised through the first round of their respective team events at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday.
The women's team of Yu Mengyu, Lin Ye and Zhou Yihan were dominant in their first clash against Laos.
Yu thrashed Thipphalik Sannivad 11-5, 11-2, 11-4 in the first ties. Lin Ye got off to a shaky start but went on to dominate Seangdavieng Douangpanya 11-8, 11-3, 11-5 while her women's doubles partner Zhou Yihan gave no chance to Sisangvan Phimmayou to win 11-3, 11-1, 11-3.
Later on Saturday evening, they were also comfortable in beating Vietnam 3-0.
Lin, the first player to be fielded, beat Phan Hoang Tuong Giang 11-6, 11-2, 11-6. Then, Yu defeated Vu Thi Ha 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 while Isabelle Li avenged her women's singles loss over Pham Thi Thien Kim, this time winning 11-5, 11-3, 11-6.
Said Li: "I was quite looking forward for a rematch as it will be a second chance for me to enjoy the experience of fighting for victory. I was playing a little too defensively previously, but today I felt more relaxed."
The men's team were equally dominant against their Laos counterparts later on Saturday afternoon, also winning their group tie 3-0.
Li Hu beat Laos' Phinith Kongphet 11-7, 11-7, 11-6. Second player Clarence Chew got off to a slow start but managed to pick up his game to win Thavisack Phathaphone 12-10, 11-9, 11-7. Third player Chen Feng then secured the win for Singapore when he defeated Phonepaseud Oliyavong 11-7, 11-6, 11-3.
Chew's slow start was a result of his injured arm but a tactical change allowed him victory eventually.
He said: "I had a rest yesterday so my arm's slightly better. But it cramped a little so I started slow to avoid using too much strength and power. So I tried to make up for it with a different tactic."
