logo
Hong Kong youngster Baldwin Chan to help ease workload at World Table Tennis Championships

Hong Kong youngster Baldwin Chan to help ease workload at World Table Tennis Championships

Hong Kong will go into the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships starting in Qatar on Saturday boasting a broader range of options, with Baldwin Chan Ho-wah carrying much of the team's hopes – and workload – on his young shoulders.
Advertisement
For the first time since her tournament debut in Paris in 2013, Doo Hoi-kem will not have to play in all three categories and can focus on a slightly reduced workload of singles and mixed doubles.
Her mixed doubles partner Wong Chun-ting will have his third men's doubles partner in Chan, and with the World Championships debutant shouldering two doubles events and the men's singles in Doha, the 21-year-old was at the centre of most conversations.
'He's a young player with potential,' the 34-year-old Wong said. 'He's fast, and as a left-hander, gives us some advantage in the doubles.
'I hope to give him some new perspectives [as a partner] to help him in singles, and I hope we can provide a new spark.'
Doo Hoi-kem (left) and Wong Chun-ting hope to improve on the bronze medals they have won. Photo: HKCTTA
Wong said the pair had a decent draw, with the first hurdle expected at the round of 16, when they potentially face Florian Bourrassaud and Esteban Dorr of France.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Light Years Charm goes whoosh again at Sha Tin: ‘it's hard to know what the ceiling is'
Light Years Charm goes whoosh again at Sha Tin: ‘it's hard to know what the ceiling is'

South China Morning Post

timean hour ago

  • South China Morning Post

Light Years Charm goes whoosh again at Sha Tin: ‘it's hard to know what the ceiling is'

Light Years Charm cruises to victory under Zac Purton at Sha Tin on Sunday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Light Years Charm continued his march up the ratings and trainer David Eustace's impressive first Hong Kong campaign kept rolling during the season's first twilight meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday. Chasing back-to-back victories on Class Two debut, Light Years Charm was sent off the $1.7 favourite for the Lee On Handicap (1,400m), but there were a few nervous moments for his supporters and connections. Not known for being the quickest away, Light Years Charm found himself detached from the field after being squeezed between horses early. Still last turning for home but looming ominously, Light Years Charm barrelled home down the outside under Zac Purton to salute by a length and a half eased down. Light Years Charm goes from last-to-first with a BANG in Class 2 at Sha Tin! ✨@EustaceRacing and @zpurton combine with the smart 4YO by Rubick, who soars to consecutive wins... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 8, 2025 'It was a perfect ride. The horse actually did jump better than he normally does but he got squeezed at the start,' said Eustace. 'Zac took his time and assessed the pace up front and the horse lengthened really well.' In a race run well over a second inside standard for the final 1,200m, Purton bided his time before pouncing on his tiring opponents. 'It was a really good effort. He actually didn't begin that bad but the runner on the inside and the runner on the outside both shifted ground so that put him on the back foot, but I just left him alone,' said the jockey. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. 'The other guys were busy running their 1,000m race and when they were finished doing that, I just chimed in at the 400m and ran the race like it should have been run.' Trainer David Eustace with Zac Purton and the jockey's children, Cash and Roxy. Light Years Charm's third Hong Kong victory will lift his rating into the 90s and Eustace is considering one more run before turning his attention to next season with the four-year-old. 'There's a Class Two [1,400m] on July 1 which is fairly tempting. We'll see how we go,' said Eustace. 'He'll definitely appreciate a break [when it comes] and I hope he'll get better next season. He's doing nothing wrong at the moment. 'It's hard to know what the ceiling is. He's only four and he's a big, raw horse. It would be wrong for me to put targets on his back. We'll see how far he gets. 'He's obviously going to have to continue to improve, but hopefully he can.' Zac Purton after landing a double at Sha Tin on Sunday. Eustace took his total to 30 winners for the season and with the stable operating in solid form, he's hopeful of finishing the term with a flourish. '[I'm] happy with how it's gone so far. They've raced well and consistently, and the team at home are doing a great job. We'll try and round the season out well,' he said. The victory of Light Years Charm completed a double for seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey Purton after his earlier success aboard the John Size-trained Ping Hai Comet in the Class Four Lam Tin Handicap (1,600m). It was a super training effort from Size to have his five-year-old ready to win over the Sha Tin mile just 11 days after breaking his maiden with victory over 2,200m at Happy Valley. Size left Sha Tin with a brace of his own thanks to the later success of Majestic Express in the Class Three On Yam Handicap (1,000m). The master handler is edging ever closer to his 13th trainers' premiership after increasing his lead over the second-placed David Hayes to eight wins with 10 meetings remaining.

Australians wary of Saudi Arabia's ‘games' as teams fight for last automatic World Cup spot
Australians wary of Saudi Arabia's ‘games' as teams fight for last automatic World Cup spot

South China Morning Post

time3 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Australians wary of Saudi Arabia's ‘games' as teams fight for last automatic World Cup spot

Australia's Connor Metcalfe has warned his teammates to avoid reacting to Saudi Arabia's gamesmanship when the nations face off in Jeddah on Tuesday with automatic qualification for next year's World Cup finals on the line. Tony Popovic's outfit go into the meeting at the King Abdullah Sports City with one foot on the plane to North America after a 1-0 win over Japan on Thursday bought the Socceroos breathing room in their quest for a place at the finals. Despite that advantage, Metcalfe sought to ensure the Australians do not allow their focus to slip ahead of a crucial 90 minutes that will be played out in front of more than 50,000 fans and in stifling heat. 'There's going to be a lot of diving, a lot of acting, but it's about just blocking the noise out, focusing on ourselves and doing the best we can,' said the midfielder with Bundesliga club St. Pauli. 'You can't get affected by any of it, because if you get affected by any of their little games or noise or whatever it is, then it's just going to affect the game, and they're going to get that little advantage over you.' Australia's Connor Metcalfe (right) said his team had to keep their focus in Jeddah. Photo: EPA-EFE Australia hold a three-point lead over Hervé Renard's side and a large enough goal difference to leave the Saudis needing to win by five goals to climb into second and claim the last automatic berth from the current phase of Asian preliminaries.

Basketball betting: Hong Kong plans fifth counselling centre for gamblers
Basketball betting: Hong Kong plans fifth counselling centre for gamblers

South China Morning Post

time7 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Basketball betting: Hong Kong plans fifth counselling centre for gamblers

Hong Kong authorities are planning to set up a fifth counselling centre for gamblers, the home affairs chief has said, with the government proposing to legalise basketball betting and impose a 50 per cent duty on the operator's net profits. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said on Sunday that the government would require the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which is set to become the sole licensed basketball betting operator, to contribute to society through donations and policy support. 'For example, it has to increase its donations to the Ping Wo Fund,' Mak told a radio show, referring to the body established by the government in 2003 to finance measures addressing gambling-related problems. It funds four counselling centres. 'We are planning to set up a new centre specifically for young people and offer them education and counselling services, in addition to the current four centres. 'If the club can offer resources to facilitate or implement sports policies, it may be the direction the public wishes to see.' According to a government paper submitted to the Legislative Council, those aged 18 or under accounted for 1 to 2 per cent of people receiving counselling or treatment from the four centres in the past five years. The proportion of gamblers aged between 18 and 21 remained below 2 per cent in that period, according to the club.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store