By Jong Yik Kang (24S05B Boys’ Captain), Ho Ee Shann (24S03N Girls’ Captain), Teo Zhe Minn Jevyn (24S03D Boys’ Vice-Captain), Lynel Chiang (24S03M Girls’ Vice-Captain)

Imagine this: the score is 2-2, 10-9. What’s next is the deciding point that could grant overall victory. The crucial point that could help regain RI’s lost crown. Crowds cheering, sweat dripping, heart racing, you draw one final deep breath. 

All sound fades out as you toss the ball high into the air…as the ball rockets back and forth in a blur, the crowd holds its breath, witnessing the astonishing poetry in motion…and POW! With one decisive smash, you seal the victory for Raffles! The crowd erupts, the supporters chant your name, and your teammates charge past the barriers to embrace you, the man-of-the-match. And with that, you cement your legacy in RI as the winner of the 2025 championship.

All this is a real possibility if you join Raffles Table Tennis. Table Tennis, also known as “ping-pong”, is an exciting, fast-paced sport in which either two or four players hit a lightweight ball back and forth across a table using small wooden rackets. The popular sport takes place on a hard table divided by a net, and you might even have gotten your own shot at it during PE lessons! However, while it might look and sound simple, table tennis requires high levels of precision, speed as well as split-second decision-making when played at a higher level, making it a rather difficult sport to master. 

The RI Table Tennis team comprises of boys and girls, who are all equally committed to disciplined and intensive training sessions. With the unwavering support of our teachers and coaches, we strive to develop each member to their highest potential. Above all, it is our utmost priority to provide a safe, warm and conducive environment for each member to learn, develop and grow. We strive to build a family which recognises the universal importance of not only celebrating each other’s achievements, but also supporting and uplifting each other during tough moments, both inside and outside the sport. We believe Raffles Table Tennis to be more than a CCA, but a community, and a family. 

You may be wondering: what about training sessions? Our CCA requires more commitment than some other CCAs, but this comes hand-in-hand with the passion and joy for the sport. In the period leading up to the National Championships at the National Schools Games, we train thrice a week. After the Championships and in preparation for academic assessments, training sessions are reduced to twice a week. Our training takes place at RI from 5.30 pm-8.00 pm on Mondays, 2.30 pm-5.00 pm on Wednesdays and 5.00 pm-7.30 pm on Fridays, with additional training sessions during the competition season. 

With the help of both our experienced coaches, Coach Zhang Jun Ming as well as Coach Tay Jit Kiat, every training session holds something valuable for each player to take home, be it a new skill or improvement in technique. Our experienced teacher-mentors, Mr Chan Joon Kiat, Ms Cheryl Lin and Mrs Katherine Ng have also been there to support our journey and unleash each of our fullest potentials as players.

Beyond the regular training sessions, we also engage in bonding activities to boost the team’s morale. We often come together for team dinners and get together before training to do our homework together to foster stronger ties between team members. Team dinners after the training session on Fridays are considered a sacred gathering for Raffles Table Tennis members, and all members are highly encouraged to join in.

What about results? Our hard work and determination have paid off in the 2024 National School Games, and both the girls’ and the boys’ teams achieved commendable results. Both the boys’ and girls’ team emerged as overall Champions, restoring the Championship title for both the boys’ and girls’ team after heartbreaking losses in 2023. 

However, what was infinitely more valuable than the victory were the core memories we made along the way. The bonds we forged will accompany us throughout the rest of our lives. The lessons learnt on the importance of tenacity and forging on as a tightly knit team have also prepared us to face future challenges with courage. Trophies will one day rust and fade, but these memories will last forever. 

In 2025, our team aims not only to achieve double champions for both the girls’ and boys’ teams in the National School Games, but also support each other in our own individual table tennis journeys. In the face of challenges, we will never give up, but instead work together as one united team as we build on one another’s strengths to uplift ourselves from our struggles. More than just achieving results, we hope to foster an accepting community and build lasting memories that we can cherish fondly. 

So join us, and embark on your memorable, once-in-a-lifetime journey in Raffles Table Tennis.