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Wednesday December 22, 2004

Eighth crown for Beh in National Championships

BY LOGANATH VELLOO

PRAI: Kedah's Beh Lee Wei rewrote the record books by winning an eighth consecutive women's singles title at the National Table Tennis Championships at the Seberang Prai Polytechnic College yesterday.

Her feat was more remarkable for the fact that the national player is only 21 years' old and is capable of extending her dominance in the competition for another few years.

Phua Bee Sim, who won the women's singles gold from 1990-1996 while representing Kedah and Selangor, held the previous record of seven consecutive titles.

TITLE GALORE: Kedah's Beh Lee Wei showing off her three gold medals won at the National Table Tennis Championship Tuesday.
Lee Wei defeated her Kedah teammate Ng Sock Khim 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 in the final yesterday to continue her winning streak, which began in 1997.

“I am happy to have shattered Bee Sim's record and am now aiming to extend my own record in this competition.

“Bee Sim won her seventh title when she was 24. I am only 21 now and believe I can maintain my dominance for another few years,” said Lee Wei.

Lee Wei also completed a hat-trick of titles yesterday.

She partnered her sister Lee Fong to defeat Sabah's Chiu Soo Jiin-Lam See Vui 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 in the women's doubles final.

Lee Wei clinched the mixed doubles gold as well with partner H'ng Kim Shan. The Kedah pair trashed Penang's Peng Jia Ping-Lim Mei Leng 11-3, 11-5, 11-3.

Selangor's Chan Koon Wah made up for the disappointment of losing last year's final by winning the 2004 men's singles gold.

The 1998, 2000 and 2001 champion added a fourth national title after a tough final victory over Kuala Lumpur's Andy Ng Shiu Leong 4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7.

Andy still went home with a gold medal as he partnered Eng Tian Syh to down Penang's Choo Sim Guan-Peng Jia Ping 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 in the men's doubles final.

Sukma gold medallist Muhamad Shakirin Ibrahim of Kuala Lumpur made up for the disappointment of crashing out of the men's singles semi-finals to teammate Andy by cruising to the non-Chinese category's men's singles and men's doubles titles.

His two gold medals ensured Kuala Lumpur pipped Kedah to be crowned the overall champions in this year's championship.

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