National table tennis player Izaac Quek had a year to remember in 2023, when he made a name for himself on the international stage.
The 17-year-old won the men's singles, doubles and team golds at the Cambodia SEA Games, broke into the top 100 in the world rankings, and recorded upsets over a list of higher-ranked players that included world No. 21 Frenchman Alexis Lebrun, Commonwealth Games champion Sharath Kamal Achanta, and Sweden's men's doubles world champion Mattias Falck.
That is all in the past now, as the teenager aims for a big goal in 2024 - qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
He said: "The good performances gave me more confidence and the motivation to work harder, but what is important for me is to try and have a mental reset, to not think about all those good matches and try to play as if I'm the underdog in every game, just like last year.
"All my opponents will be older than me and have much more experience than me, so I still have to learn match by match."
His experiences in 2023 have also given him more self-belief in his skills and he has learnt what it takes to get through crucial moments and points in matches.
Denne historien er fra February 16, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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Denne historien er fra February 16, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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