Story by Leslie Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Tan Jon Han/Red Sports
Singapore Youth Olympic representative Clarence Chew in action during his second stage encounter with Stefan Leitgeb of Austria. The Austrian prevailed in the five set showdown 3-2 (11-9 8-11 8-11 11-5 3-11). (Photo 1 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
Singapore Indoor Stadium, Sunday, August 22, 2010 — Isabelle Li of Singapore made it through to the quarter-final stage of the Youth Olympic Games table tennis competition, while Clarence Chew fell at the round of 16.
Isabelle will play Bernadette Szocs of Romania later this evening at 1700hrs after she won two out of her three matches in the second stage group. She finished second in the group behind Yang Ha Eun of Korea who also finished with a 2-1 win-loss record but who had a better points difference than Isabelle.
Isabelle lost her only match 0-3 to Ha Eun (8-11, 5-11, 5-11) but beat Ariel Hsing of the USA 3-1 (10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9) and Mateja Jeger of Croatia 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-8).
“I was disappointed with the first game but I thought I did okay in the second. The crowd kept me going,” said Isabelle about her two matches today.
Clarence Chew missed out on a quarter-final spot when he lost a titanic 5-set battle against Ojo Oanaolapo of Nigeria. Clarence played well but the Nigerian just edged him 11-0, 8-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7.
Clarence finished at the bottom of his round of 16 group with a 1-2 win-loss record. He also lost a five-set match against Stefan Leitgeb of Austria, going down 11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 11-5, 3-11.
His sole second round victory was a 3-1 win over Hampus Soderlund of Sweden. Clarence beat him 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8.
“It’s a pity I lost but I played well and so the result doesn’t matter,” said Clarence.
Clarence reads Stefan’s play and prepares his return stroke. The Singaporean was three points away from taking the third set at 8-6 but allowed the Austrian back into the game, eventually losing 8-11. (Photo 2 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
The sole representative in the boys tournament serves to stay in the match. (Photo 3 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
However, it’s Stefan that celebrates after winning the decider 11-3 to register a win in the second stage. (Photo 4 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
Isabelle Li returns a shot during her second stage encounter with Croatian Mateja Jeger. Unlike her male counterpart, Isabelle had it easy in her match emerging victorious 3-0. (Photo 5 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
Mateja reacts to another unforced error. The Croatian teenager committed countless mistakes while trying to attack Isabelle’s defensive playing style. (Photo 6 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
Isabelle reaches to retrieve a shot with her “chopping” game stroke. (Photo 7 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
The Youth Olympian celebrates her victory after the Croatian committed another error. (Photo 8 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
Clarence makes a serve during his second match of the day on court one. The Singaporean did not have an easy outing despite playing against Ojo Onaolapo of Nigeria, a country better known for soccer. He went down in another five-setter. (Photo 9 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
Ojo makes a smash during his third set with Clarence. The Nigerian teenager mixed his gameplay with powerful strokes and clever placements to overcome the Singapore teenager. (Photo 10 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
Clarence attacks Ojo’s backhand during the deciding set. Despite trailing for the whole set, the youth athlete showed no fear in keeping to his gameplay and did manage to claw back into the match at 6-10. A mistake in the return of serve though cost him, handing the win to the Nigerian. (Photo 11 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
Exciting play by Clarence though he did not make it to the next round. He has shown a part of Singapore’s great performance in YOG. Good luck to Isabelle next!