Following their surprise Asian Table Tennis Championships men's doubles silver medal on Oct 12, Koen Pang and Izaac Quek had more reasons to celebrate as they rose to a career-high world No. 10 and qualified for the World Table Tennis (WTT) Finals again.
The duo will play in the Nov 20-24 event in Fukuoka, Japan, as the seventh highest-ranked partnership among eight pairs. They were the first local-born Singaporeans to feature in the tournament when they lost 3-0 to French brothers Alexis and Felix Lebrun in the first round of the 2023 edition in Doha, Qatar, in January.
To feature among the world's elite reaffirms Pang's belief in himself as he works towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He had narrowly missed out on qualifying for Paris 2024 in the mixed doubles with Wong Xin Ru and in the men's singles.
Pang, 22, told The Straits Times: "This does not make up for the disappointment of missing out on the Olympics, but gives me some confidence in myself to push for LA 2028.
"Izaac and I have a lot of chemistry between us. But there is still a lot of room for improvement, especially when we get into the rallies. My target going into Fukuoka is to have fun and play the best table tennis I can."
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 12, 2024-Ausgabe von The Straits Times.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 12, 2024-Ausgabe von The Straits Times.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
TACKLE PLASTIC WASTE, ONE NAIL AT A TIME
Before global leaders take the problem of plastic pollution into their hands in November, Japanese manicurist Naomi Arimoto is putting it on her fingernails.
Unpacking Ireland's cultural and creative renaissance
From Sally Rooney's bestsellers to actor Paul Mescal, Ireland, which holds a general election on Nov 29, has been enjoying a cultural and creative renaissance.
Jung Ho-yeon and Lee Dong-hwi split
Squid Game (2021 to present) star Jung Ho-yeon has split from her actor-boyfriend Lee Dong-hwi after a nine-year relationship.
Dorothy's ruby slippers to go under the hammer
The ruby slippers worn by the late American actress Judy Garland in classic film The Wizard Of Oz (1939) will be sold at auction in December, nearly 20 years after they were stolen.
Artist Julie Mehretu opens solo Show in Sydney
Ethiopia-born New York artist Julie Mehretu (right), considered one of the most influential living painters, has opened her first solo show in the Southern Hemisphere in Sydney.
Wicked's renowned costume designer returns to Oz
Tony Award-winning designer Paul Tazewell first created costumes for The Wizard Of Oz in a high-school production
ULTIMATE SELF-CARE
'Tis the season to treat yourself at spas and salons, which have introduced a slew of treatments for head-to-toe pampering
Fifa using $67m legacy fund for social initiatives
LAUSANNE - Fifa launched a US$50 million (S$67 million) legacy fund for social programmes on Nov 27, in collaboration with 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
THE MARATHON BIKER GUY
Veteran Aussie has cycled over 50 courses in 12 years to ensure the route is 42.195km
Emery upbeat despite late drama against Juve
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
