Disappointment for Hong Kong as matters came to a conclusion in the Men’s Singles and Under 21 Men’s Singles events at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Ozcare Open in Sydney with defeats on the penultimate day of play, Saturday 24^th May, for Wong Chun Ting and Li Hon Ming.

Wong Chun Ting was somewhat surprisingly beaten at the quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles event by the host nation’s William Henzell (8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9); whilst at the semi-final stage of the Under 21 Men’s Singles competition, Li Hon Ming suffered defeat at the hands of the champion elect, Japan’s Asuka Sakai (6-11, 11-6, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-2).

However, there was success for Hong Kong.

Tang Peng and Wong Chun Ting won the Men’s Doubles title and thoroughly justified their top seeded position in the draw.

They beat the second seeded Singaporean partnership of Yang Zi and Zhan Jian in three straight games (11-5, 11-9, 11-7).

In Sydney and perhaps in the whole of Australia I hear the phrase “all good” or the word “awesome”; Tang Peng and Wong Chun Ting fitted both descriptors, they controlled the contest from start to finish.

 “We know the Singapore players really well and I think we are a level above”, said Tang Peng. “They have different styles but they were not in any way strange for us”

Yang Zi is a talented left hander with supple wrists, reversed rubber on both sides of the racket; like Yang Zi, Zhan Jian is shake-hands grip player but uses short pimpled rubber on the forehand, reversed on the backhand. They form a fine and somewhat different pairing.

Most certainly Tang Peng is the Team leader, he is 33 years old, as opposed to Wong Chun Ting who is ten years his junior; they are from different generations.

“He helps me a great deal, he has the experience and he is very powerful”, explained Wong Chun Ting who complements the technique of Tang Peng.

A right handed pen-holder who uses both sides of the racket; a major strength of his play is returning service from the backhand; that skill sets up the opportunity for Tang Peng to unleash his power.

Previously Tang Peng partnered Jiang Tianyi and they enjoyed success; notably they won the Men’s Doubles title at the KAL Cup ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Seoul in December 2010.

“Of course it’s different with Wong Chun Ting; he’s right handed as opposed the Jiang Tianyi who is left handed”, stressed Tang Peng. “I think Wong Chun Ting is a more aggressive player and that suits me.”

Certainly they combined superbly; without doubt they were all good, awesome.

   Another Step Forward for Li Hon Ming, Hong Kong Teenager Beats Top Seed