Federal Territory and Penang advance for an intense final

KUCHING: The Federal Territory and Penang are expected to clash in a showdown group category finals of the ping pong competition today (Aug 22), following intense semifinal victories that showcased the skills and determination of both teams.

The Federal Territory secured their spot in the final after a hard-fought 3-2 win against Selangor. The match was a nail-biter, with both teams pushing each other to the limit across all categories.

Selangor’s Xiang Jun Pang emerged as the standout in the men’s singles, delivering a flawless performance with three consecutive wins, dominating Caleb Xi An Hong in a series of 11-point games.

Selangor’s Xiang Jun Pang signals ‘one more point’ to his team mates

However, the turning point came in the women’s doubles, where Selangor faltered under pressure. Facing a formidable pairing from the Federal Territory Jia Wei Ng and Jing Fei Chan, Selangor’s hopes crumbled as they were unable to withstand the relentless attack, sealing their unfortunate fate in the final match.

Meanwhile, Penang also secured a 3-2 victory over Melaka in their semifinal showdown.

Melaka’s Yu Xuan Low shone in the women’s singles, sweeping Lee Peng Look with a commanding three-to-nil lead, giving her team an early advantage.

But the tide turned in the women’s doubles, where Penang’s dynamic duo, Cindy Ma and Ci Qian Lim, delivered a decisive performance, overcoming Melaka’s Isabel Lim Rui Xin and Lim Zu Ling, clinching the final point needed to advance.