Hong Kong table tennis coach tempers National Games expectations, eyes mixed doubles medal

Fresh from their historic result at the Asian Table Tennis Team Championships in India, the city’s head coach has sought to temper expectations for the National Games.

Hong Kong’s men claimed silver after losing 3-0 to China at the Kalinga Stadium, their best result ever in the regional tournament, while the women’s team ranked seventh.

Head coach Li Ching said his players should approach the Games with a “learning mentality”, with some technical gaps still existing between themselves and their mainland rivals, even if the younger players were closing in.

One example of that was Baldwin Chan Ho-wah’s 3-1 defeat to Wang Chuqin, where the Hongkonger’s total points won in the match were on a par with the world No 1.

Despite the impressive performance, Li considers mixed doubles pair Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem the city’s only “medal hope”, but backed Su Tsz-tung to “cause some trouble in the women’s youth events”.

“Since I came in 2000, we always ranked third and there was no trophy, I am happy to finally bring one home,” Li said. “So, I think they have surpassed us as a generation. It’s a good thing that the new generation excels the previous one.”