An Interview with Ethan Poh of Nanyang Primary

TABLE TENNIS

Interview by Leslie Tan. Pictures by Vivian Lo.

Ethan Poh of Nanyang Primary is a young table tennis talent who has been drafted into the national age-group team. Red Sports caught up with Ethan to find out more about him.

Red Sports: What is your name?
Ethan: I’m Ethan Poh Shao Feng. My nickname is ‘Fireman’ because I love fire and the colour red.

Red Sports: How old are you?
Ethan: I’m 8 years old.

Red Sports: How did you get spotted?
Dennis Poh (Ethan’s father): Ethan was first spotted by us (father & mother) when he displayed great ball sense skills when he was 3. Subsequently, he was spotted and drafted into a zone centre for beginners by one of the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) coaches when he was about 6. Currently at the age of 8 (youngest & shortest in the squad), he was selected into the national youth development squad (full-time)
through the recommendations and appraisals from multiple coaches.

Red Sports: What’s your height?
Ethan: 1.295m.

Red Sports: How old were you when you started playing table tennis?
Dennis Poh: Ethan started casual ‘floor’ ping pong sessions with his grandma at the age of 3.

Red Sports: Why do you like the sport so much?
Ethan: It’s fun and it helps me to move even faster.

Red Sports: What is your favourite stroke?
Ethan: Back hand loop & fore hand loop!!!

Red Sports: How often do you practise table tennis?
Ethan: Everyday after school, my first training session is in the afternoon from 2pm to 5pm. Second session in the evening from 7pm to 9pm. Sunday is a rest day. But sometimes daddy trains with me even on my rest days in our house.

Red Sports: Apart from table tennis, what other sports do you like and play?
Tennis, because the playing area is bigger so that I can hit the ball further. The serving is also very fast and cool.