Table Tennis: Singapore’s Izaac Quek wins SEA Games men’s singles gold, defends title

BANGKOK: Izaac Quek successfully defended his SEA Games men’s singles crown on Friday (Dec 19), beating Indonesia’s Bima Abdi Negara.

At the Central Westgate mall in Nonthaburi, the 19-year-old reigning champion cruised to a 4-0 win (11-6, 11-8, 11-3, 13-11). Quek is ranked 139th in the world, while his opponent is unranked.

In a rematch of the 2023 Games finals earlier in the day, Quek beat Vietnam’s Nguyen Anh Tu 4-1.

This is Quek's third gold of the Games after wins in the men's team and men's doubles. It is also his second straight games winning three golds, having won the same three events at the last Games

"Since the team event, fighting it through, getting a gold medal with the team was very, very important for my confidence," said the youngster.

"Even though I was very, very nervous before all of my matches, I told myself that I have what it takes. Just execute my skills well and the results will come after."

There was a big difference between this year's Games and the previous edition, added Quek.

"This time it is much different because everyone's eyes are on me, and everyone's trying to win against me," he said.

"Every match was very, very high intensity, and a lot of pressure. Coming into these Games, I knew that it would be much more difficult. But I'm definitely happy that I have good confidence in myself."

However, Singapore’s world ranked 37 Zeng Jian failed to defend her women’s singles title as she lost 2-3 in the quarterfinals to Thailand’s rank 98 Suthasini Sawettabut on Thursday.

Suthasini went on to defeat Singapore’s Ser Lin Qian 4-2 in the semifinals on Friday, which meant that Ser took joint-bronze. The Thai paddler later defeated fellow countrywoman Orawan Paranang to take the gold medal.

Singapore’s table