Pg Muhd Sufian Pg Hj Ibrahim
posing with his Brunei Amateur
Table Tennis Association
(BATTA) Men's Single President
Cup trophy yesterday. The
defending champion also won
the trophy in 2010. Picture:
BT/Syarif Rasani
Pg Muhd Sufian Pg Hj Ibrahim successfully defended his Brunei Amateur Table Tennis Association (BATTA) Men's Single President Cup title yesterday after finishing off Ang Wee Tiam 3-1 (11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5) in what seemed to be an easy final.
Winnie Lim took the woman's single title after defeating Hong Hui Qin 3-0 (11-2, 14-12, 11-5) in the morning's session.
Pg Sufian, who has now won the event three times, broke away with a 5-0 lead in the first set before Ang could reply at the Menglait Sports Complex.
His constant variation of spins on the ball made it hard for Ang to reply, the latter seeing all his shots fly into the net.
Ang's best play in the first set was when he managed scored three straight points when Pg Muhd Sufian rested on 9-3 before the defending champion knocked in the last two to claim the set.
Pg Muhd Sufian secured another 5-1 lead in the second set in a near repeat of the first.
Ang managed to keep it close and trailed 7-5 before Pg Muhd Sufian stepped up his paddling skills to take the second set.
Both players spruced up the energy with a tight game in the third set, where Ang finally managed to draw the game and take the lead at 5-4.
Pg Muhd Sufian showed a little struggle with his plays and the scoreboard would read 7-7 before Ang managed to seal his first set.
Ang showed another close contest in the first few serves of the game before Pg Muhd Sufian went on to dominate the rest of the game.
"It was a challenge for me this year because I am the defending champion," said Pg Muhd Sufian, who first won the title in 2010.
"I felt really nervous in the beginning but in the first set I took a big lead so I felt better and had more confidence.
"My nervousness came back to me in the third set so in the fourth set I told myself I must win because I want to defend my title," Pg Muhd Sufian told The Brunei Times.
Pg Sufian defeated Hj Irwan Shadi Hj Mashud 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 4-11, 11-1, 11-10) with a strong comeback in the semi-finals while Ang secured his spot after beating Paul Lim 3-2 (9-11, 11-9, 11-2, 5-11, 11-10), who finished joint-third.
BATTA president Hj Awg Damit Hj Abd Rahman handed out the trophies.
