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Practice makes perfect for La Salle boy

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Vincent Li Kwun-ngai deals with pressure all the time.

So it was no surprise when Kwun-ngai - a Form Four student at La Salle College - won the 2004 Table Tennis Championship, beating Lee Chi-kit 11-2, 11-6, 11-4 in the final on Sunday. He outlasted 102 other competitors in the 15-17 age category.

His strokes had the precision of a well-trained surgeon. His demeanour was calm and relaxed. According to Cao Yunong, Hong Kong's national youth team coach, it all comes down to experience.

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'He's [Kwun-ngai] played in a lot of overseas competitions,' Cao said. 'He's learned how to play in tight situations and he can deal with pressure very well.'

Kwun-ngai, 16, picked up a paddle for the first time in 1996, attracted by the fast pace of the game.

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'I invest a lot of time in this sport,' he said. 'It's a huge part of my life.'

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