Meanwhile, in the other SAR ... Asia's best junior table tennis players gathered in Macau on the weekend for the 2008 Youth Sport Exchange Camp. Sixty-eight athletes and about 20 support staff were at the Macau Dome for the three-day competition which finished on Sunday. Competitors 15 and under and travelled from the mainland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Japan to take part. A spokeswoman for the Macau Sports Development Board said this was the first time the event had been held in Macau. She said the competition gives local junior players a chance to compete internationally and improve their game. 'It's an exchange and learning experience and will hopefully encourage other youths to participate in the sport,' she said. 'Athletes get the chance to improve their skills and see what other competitors are doing.' Gregory Gung, of Singapore, has travelled extensively playing table tennis but said this was his first visit to Macau. The 15-year-old trains five hours a day and hopes to make a career out of playing table tennis. 'I like the technique, the skills, everything about the game really and I think it's a lot of fun,' Gregory said. 'It is fast and you have to be quick and concentrate all the time.' Gregory has won numerous competitions including the Malaysia International and has played in tournaments on the mainland and Thailand. 'Of course I would like to make the Olympics one day as it is every player's dream, but the sport is very competitive,' he said. 'I train in two sessions a day for two-and-a-half hours each time and fit it in around school. If you want to be at the top level it requires a lot of practice but I enjoy it so I don't mind it at all.'
