KUCHING: Sarawak’s table tennis team suffered a setback today (Aug 20), losing four of five matches against the Federal Territory in the team event.
Despite the defeat, coach Jiang Zhen Yu remained optimistic, highlighting valuable lessons learned from the match.
“We fought hard and executed our game plan, but the Federal Territory proved to be a formidable opponent,” Jiang said.
“While we showed glimpses of our potential, we need to improve our consistency, especially in crucial moments.”
“This experience will serve us well as we shift our focus to the individual events. We believe we can still achieve strong results there,” he added.
The Federal Territory dominated the team event, leaving Sarawak with little chance of progressing.
However, Jiang is confident his players can rebound in the one-on-one matches.
“We’re in a tough group, but we’re up for the challenge,” he said.
Our goal is to secure a top-three finish in the singles events.”
Assessing his team’s condition, Jiang expressed confidence in their abilities.
“The players are physically fit, but we need to refine our tactics and decision-making,” he added.
“We fell short in some close matches, but I believe we can turn things around.”
With the team event drawing to a close, Jiang emphasised the importance of staying focused.
“Tomorrow is our last chance in the team competition, but our main objective is to excel in the individual events,” he said.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian were among the spectators at the match.
