Hours of training at the Sports Institute after school and specialist weekend coaching in Shenzhen paid off for new schoolboy table-tennis champion Vincent Li Kwun-ngai. The 16-year-old La Salle College student clinched the coveted singles title at last week's All-Hong Kong Schools Jing Ying competition at Harbour Road Sports Centre. However, it wasn't all plain sailing for the Hong Kong team member. In the semi-finals Vincent had to be at his best to overcome Li Chi-kit of Ying Wa College. 'The semi-final was a very exciting game and Vincent showed excellent concentration to win it,' said La Salle's table-tennis team coach Simon Yeung Chee-wai. After losing the first two sets, Chi-kit came back strongly to make it 2-2. In the fifth and deciding set, Vincent went up 5-0 but his rival was far from finished. Although Chi-kit mounted a spirited fightback to edge ahead 6-5, it was the La Salle boy who showed the composure to finally clinch the match. In the final, Li Hing-hang of Wah Yan College (Hong Kong) was no match for Vincent, who claimed the title with a 3-1 victory. The Form Five student also won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. 'He was easily the best player in the tournament, and a true champion. He was brilliant,' said Yeung. 'All his hard work paid off. He practises at the Sports Institute in Sha Tin every night after school and trains for six hours every Saturday at a table-tennis coaching centre in Shenzhen. He plays against the best young players from Guangdong there.' Chi-kit, partnered by Chu Hiu-hin, also suffered defeat in the doubles final. Wong Ming-hei and Wong Ming-lok of CCC Mong Man Wai College claimed the honours. In the boys' primary category, La Salle's Chiu Chung-hei was in no mood to lose the singles final after he and his partner Yung Chun-to were beaten in the doubles title match. Lee Wai-ki and Yuen Ho-hin of SKH Wing Chun Primary School were too good for the La Salle boys in doubles. But Chung-hei, who also won the MVP (primary boys) award, got his revenge in the singles final, beating Ho-hin. 'Chung-hei is very patient. He was frustrated after the doubles but stayed calm and played brilliantly to win the singles title,' said Yeung.