Hong Kong women’s table tennis team faces tough group at World Championships

A Hong Kong women’s table tennis team boasting three debutants has been handed the difficult task of trying to get through a tough group stage at this month’s World Team Table Tennis Championships in London.

Apart from veteran Doo Hoi-kem, who is set to play in her sixth team world championship event, Pedrey Ng Wing-lam is the only other player with any experience of the tournament, having played one match in a 3-0 win over South Africa’s Musfiquh Kalam in Chengdu four years ago.

Su Tsz-Tung, Gillian Kong Tsz-Lam and Karen Lee Hoi-Man will all be making their debuts at the biennial championships, which will be held at the Copper Box Arena and OVO Wembley from April 28 to May 10.

Hong Kong have been placed in the same group as Mexico, the Netherlands, and neighbours Macau, who have world No 5 Zhu Yuling among their number.

“I will give my all in every match, but I am also approaching the championship with a learning mindset,” the 17-year-old Su Tsz-tung said. “I’ve played against some really good players on the World Table Tennis Tour. I’ll do my best against them.

“This World Championships came sooner than I thought, but I am really happy, and cherish the opportunity.”