Hong Kong table tennis star Doo Hoi-kem eyes World Championships after Taiyuan podium finishes

Hong Kong table tennis star Doo Hoi-kem prepared for the coming World Team Table Tennis Championships with “positive impact” despite finishing second in two events at the World Table Tennis Contender Taiyuan event over the weekend.

On Sunday, Doo and partner Ng Wing-lam, the tournament third seeds, lost 3-1 to China’s Shi Xunyao and Han Feier in the women’s doubles final. Facing the host pair, the Hongkongers gave themselves hope by winning the third game, but were eventually outplayed 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 12-10 in 26 minutes.

On Saturday, Doo also finished second in the mixed doubles final, with long-term partner Wong Chun-ting.

The top-seeded pair lost 3-1 to Chinese duo Shi and Huang Youzheng for the four-time World Championship bronze medallists’ second podium finish in the three months since winning the Star Contender event in Doha in January.

Hong Kong head coach Li Ching said the result of the veteran mixed doubles pair, who are ranked No 5 in the world, was the outcome of some “very specific training” to raise their game.

“Their overall playing style has become simpler and smoother, indicating a slight breakthrough in high-intensity competitive ability,” he said. “These results obviously brought positive impact, and are giving us hope ahead of the Asian Games.

“Doo and Wong are certainly going to give it a go, and will be aiming at the medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. As for the other events, we’ll also try our best.”