Searching for First Team Place, Lam Yee Lok Make a Strong Case in Hyderabad
A bronze medal in Girls’ Team event earlier in the week but very much the player who is trying to force her way into the first team; Hong Kong’s Lam Yee Lok impressed on the fifth day of action, Thursday 13th December 2012, at the Volkswagen World Junior Championships in the Indian city of Hyderabad.
She finished in first place in her group beating Angharad Phillips of Wales in four games (8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9, 11-4), before concluding her day’s work with success over Korea’s Lee Zion in a tense seven games duel (11-5, 11-5, 5-11, 11-7, 2-11, 9-11, 11-6).
In the Girls’ Team event, Lam Yee Lok had been forced to spend most of the time sitting on the bench supporting her colleagues. Only in the semi-finals against Japan was she selected; a contest in which she found Mima Ito too hot to handle.
Preferred Selection
Otherwise Doo Hoi Kem, Soo Wai Yam and Li Ching Wan had gained the selection nod.
Nervous Before Match
Proceedings in the Girls’ Singles event for Lam Yee Lok started against Angharad Phillips.
“I was nervous before the match; it was my first match in the event and I’d never played her before, so I did not know what to expect”, said Lam Yee Lok. “I tried to keep calm and to keep my mind clear; gradually I became more confident as the match progressed.”
Notable Adversary
An impressive win against a player who, like Lam Yee Lok, was competing in her first Volkswagen World Junior Championships; in the second contest a more seasoned competitor awaited; one from a country steeped in the best traditions of table tennis.
Lee Zion was a most worthy adversary.
Nearing Victory
In the sixth game it appeared that Lam Yee Lok was homing in on victory. She was three games to two ahead and led 9-6; she promptly lost the next five points.
Surely that was a massive injection of confidence for Lee Zion and a dagger in the heart for Lam Yee Lok.
Too Passive
“I think I played too passively at the end of the sixth game”, reflected Lam Yee Lok; also fortune was not on her side; two points against her were resolved with returns hitting the edge of the table.
Remained Calm
A seventh game beckoned; the momentum had swayed in favour of the Korean but, to her credit, Lam Yee Lok remained calm and focused.
She went ahead 6-4; the next point was won by Lee Zion. Sitting courtside in the role of coach was her colleague, Doo Hoi Kem; she called “Time Out”.
Wise Move
It proved a most wise decision; Lam Yee Lok surrendered just one more point!
She went ahead 9-5, lost the next point before winning the next two to secure victory.
Obeyed Instructions
“I was nervous but I pretended not to be nervous”, admitted Lam Yee Lok. “Doo Hoi Kem told me to keep the ball on the table, play consistently and fight.”
Lam Yee Lok obeyed instructions and duly won the match and the group.
More Hong Kong Success
Success for Lam Yee Lok and also there was success for her colleagues; both Li Ching Wan and Soo Wai Yam finished the day in first places in their respective groups.
Impressive Wins
Li Ching Wan accounted for India’s Ayhika Mukherjee (12-10, 12-10, 11-4, 11-6) and Alice Baredregt of the Netherlands (11-6, 11-8, 11-4, 11-4); whilst Soo Wai Yam defeated Venezuela’s Josmary Lucena (7-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-5, 11-6) and Russia’s Ekaterina Guseva (11-4, 4-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3).
Doo Hoi Kem, the one remaining member of the Hong Kong Girls’ Team was not required to compete in the group stage of proceedings.
Qualification Procedure
She is the eighth seed, the top 16 seeds receive a direct entry to the main draw.
The players finishing in first and second places in each of the 22 groups plus four “Lucky Losers”, drawn at random from the third placed players in each group, qualify for the main draw.
Video Interview
Download video interview with Lam Ye Lok
Article by: ITTF Publications Editor – Ian Marshall
Photo by: Remy Gros
