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