Commonwealth Games: Singapore book place in men’s table tennis team finals after beating England

SINGAPORE: The Singapore men’s table tennis team booked their place in the final and guaranteed themselves a Commonwealth Games medal after beating England 3-2 in Birmingham on Monday (Aug 1) night local time.

Up against vastly experienced opponents, Singapore’s young trio of Izaac Quek (16), Koen Pang (20) and Clarence Chew (26) displayed nerves of steel to take the victory.

Quek and Pang combined to give Singapore an early lead in the tie when they upset Sam Walker and Liam Pitchford 11-9, 11-7, 11-7.

But world number 74 Paul Drinkhall would level proceedings when he beat world ranked 133 Chew 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 12-10).

Pang, who was superb in the opener, then stunned world number 20 Pitchford to put Singapore 2-1 up. The world number 117 took the match 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9.

Once again, it was Drinkhall to the rescue for England as he beat Quek 11-7, 11-5, 11-4.

Then it was down to Chew who held his nerve to defeat Walker 3-1 (11-6, 11-5, 7-11,11-7).

Singapore will face either India or Nigeria in the final. At the last edition of the Games, Singapore lost the bronze medal playoff tie to England 0-3.

Earlier in the day, Singapore clinched the women's table tennis team gold after beating Malaysia 3-0 in the final.

The win was Singapore’s first gold medal of the 2022 Games and means the team recaptured the gold medal that evaded them in 2018 when they were beaten by India in the final.

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