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Camilia Lim, 13, in action for Gombak CSC against Chua Chu Kang CSC. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)

Nanyang Technological University, Sunday, June 3, 2012 — Bukit Gombak CSC beat Chua Chu Kang CSC 3-0 in the Community Games table tennis tournament. Turning out for Bukit Gombak were the father and daughter pairing of Lim May Yang, 50, and Camelia Lim, 13.

Camelia won her game 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-4) against an older opponent, an experience not new to the Secondary One student from Raffles Girls’ School (RGS).

“I have played against adults in CC tournaments and the Inter-Constituency Games,” said Camelia, who has played table tennis since Primary 1 and represented her school, Nan Hua Primary. She has since switched to playing squash in RGS but still plays table tennis in community events.

“Adults are easier to beat because they are not so fast,” said Camelia with a smile.

Her father May Yang introduced her to the sport. May Yang was an ex-Johor state player and has a younger brother who was the Malaysian champion at one time.

On hand to watch her daughter play was Teo Ai Leng, 44.

“I enjoy watching. I want to learn table tennis also so that I can join in. If not, every time, I just pick balls,” said Ai Leng with a laugh.

“I’ve gotten to know a lot of the table tennis families,” said Ai Leng about the Community Games.

“We get to interact with all kinds of people at the Community Games,” added Camelia.

As for May Yang, he had stopped playing table tennis until recently. In 2010, he joined a brisk walk organised by the Bukit Batok East CC. He was then asked to start a table tennis interest group and now runs one every Thursday and Sunday.

“It’s pretty good. I get to know friends and meet old friends who I haven’t seen in a long time,” said May Yong about picking up table tennis again after a long break from the sport.