Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem ensure World Table Tennis Contender medal in Doha
- The 31-year-old Wong continues strong return to action after Covid-19 battle, reaching mixed doubles semi-finals
- ‘He was having difficulty breathing after running for the ball, and his speed also slowed a bit … we’re hoping he’ll be back to normal health soon,’ coach says.
Mixed doubles duo Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem continued their strong start to the new year on Thursday by reaching the semi-finals of the WTT Contender event in Doha, securing Hong Kong’s first medal of 2023.
Hong Kong men’s No 1 Wong missed the World Championships Asia qualifiers last week after testing positive for Covid-19 before the team’s departure. But he recovered in time for this week’s World Table Tennis Contender at the same venue, the Lusail Sports Arena.
The pair, ranked No 6 in the world, moved into the semi-finals by defeating European Championships bronze medallists Lubomir Pistej and Barbora Balazova of Slovakia 3-2 on Wednesday, and Austrian pair Robert Gardos and Sofia Polcanova 3-1 on Thursday to advance to the semis.
“We could see Wong Chun-ting having difficulty breathing after running for the ball, and his speed also slowed a bit,” Sports Institute coach Leung Chu-yan said.
“He has not fully recovered yet, and completing three matches in a day is difficult for him. He is now competing with his fighting spirit, and we’re hoping he’ll be back to normal health soon.”
The duo, who won three medals last year and are also two-time World Championships mixed doubles bronze medallists, will next face China’s Lin Shidong and Kuai Man, ranked 14 in the world and fresh off a podium finish at the WTT Contender in Durban, South Africa.