Table tennis players defeated in first event  

Lao table tennis players bowed to the superior skills of their opponents on Tuesday in the first line-ups of the men's team event.

Top Lao player Misay Phonsavat lost to second ranked Malaysian Kian Beng Chai 1-3, and to his Thai opponent 0-3.

Mr Misay said he was disappointed that he was unable to beat his Malaysian opponent.

He said the Thai team was more skillful than the Malaysians because they had won a silver medal in the 24th SEA Games at home in 2007.

Three Lao players competed but they lacked the experience and tactics to defeat their more skillful opponents from Thailand and Malaysia .

Head Lao table tennis trainer, Mr Bounyiem Nhosavansouk, said the Lao players needed to improve their backhand and were not good enough at returning their opponent's serve.

The Lao team tested their skills in neighbouring countries on four occasions ahead of the 25th SEA Games at home.

However, table tennis teams from other Asean countries are more experienced at the international level and are not amateur players.

Despite this Mr Bounyiem said he was satisfied with the players' performance which was their best in competition.

He said the Lao team will have more opportunity to demonstrate their skills and improve before the next match.

Nine countries are competing in the sport: Vietnam , Singapore , Malaysia , Indonesia , Myanmar , the Philippines , Thailand , Cambodia and Laos . Brunei and Timor Leste have not entered table tennis teams.

Results of men's team matches on Tuesday:

Do an Kicn Quoc ( Vietnam ) beat Maung Maung Gyi ( Myanmar ) 3-0.

Nguyen Nam Hai ( Vietnam ) beat Ko Ko Gyi ( Myanmar ) 3-0.

Tran Tuan Quynh ( Vietnam ) beat Kyi Myint ( Myanmar ) 3-0.

Muhd Shakirin Ibrahim ( Malaysia ) beat Chansamone Khunlasuvannavong ( Laos ) 3-1.

Kian Beng Chai ( Malaysia ) beat Misay Phonsavat ( Laos ) 3-1.

Mao Sheng Kho ( Malaysia ) beat Thavisack Phathaphone 3-0.

Women's team matches on Tuesday :

Yu Mengyu ( Singapore ) beat Seangdavieng Douangpanya 3-0.

Sun Bei Bei ( Singapore ) beat Seangdavanh Douangpanya 3-0.

Sim Kai Xin Zena ( Singapore ) beat Thippakone Southammavong ( Laos ) 3-0.

Mai Hoang My Trang ( Vietnam ) beat Istrano Chrisma ( Philippines ) 3-0.

Mai Xuan Hang ( Vietnam ) beat Villar Beverly ( Philippines ) 3-0.

Luong Thi Tam ( Vietnam ) beat Ragon Henezey ( Philippines ) 3-0.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
(Latest Update Decembe 9 , 2009)