The mood among the Singapore men and women's teams could not have been more different as they marched into the competition arena at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Busan on Feb 20.
Already assured of a spot in the play-offs, a confident men's team came up against Canada in their final group stage match, while a tense day awaited the Singaporean women, who were facing a shock elimination which would also destroy their chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
A day of contrasts eventually ended in joy and relief - particularly for the women's trio of Zeng Jian, Zhou Jingyi and Wong Xin Ru - as the world No. 10 team recovered from their earlier losses to Sweden (No. 22) and Romania (No. 7) to place third and squeeze into the next round.
They will next face world No. 20 Poland on Feb 21, with Hong Kong (No. 6) awaiting in the last 16 on the same day.
Hong Kong were among the eight group winners who qualified directly for the round of 16, earning the right to face the winners of the ties between teams who finished second and third in their respective groups. Only the top eight men and women's sides will earn a spot in the Olympics.
After beating Canada (No. 26) 3-1 a day earlier, the Singaporean women came from behind again to down Serbia (No. 45) by the same scoreline in a must-win match at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Centre on Feb 20.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 21, 2024-Ausgabe von The Straits Times.
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