By Teo Kai Xu (27A01B)

All images courtesy of Raffles Art and Photographic Society unless otherwise stated.

The Girls’ Team marching into the arena. (Photo provided by Aleenta Quek from 27S06B)

All eyes were on them. Dressed in their iconic green, black, and white jackets, the Girls’ team marched into the arena, steeling themselves for the match ahead. 

You could feel the excitement among the spectators. Cheers rose above the chaotic din of clappers, as a palpable enthusiasm swept across the stands. Amidst the crowd, flags were waving high in support of the teams.

This year, the Girls’ Team was matched against their long-time rivals, Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), to whom they lost last year. Historically, the championship has swung between RI and HCI, and so, the day’s match was looking to be another toss-up. 

The question here was: Was the team ready to win back the title?

Ang Rae Shyn (27S03A) shared her feelings about the coming match, “I am excited because it is my first A Division Finals match, but also nervous because they (HCI) are tough opponents, and it will definitely be a hard-fought match”.

Hu Xinhui celebrating after scoring a point.

The match kicked off with an exhilarating singles match by Hu Xinhui (26S03H). Both sides brought their all to the match, playing with a clear strategy in an attempt to outplay the other. But as scores gradually became neck and neck at 2-2, it turned into a test of the players’ endurance. 

Xinhui entered the final game of the match having just lost narrowly to her opponent 11-13. In fact, the previous games ended in close margins, making the final game a crucial one.

The crowd fell silent as they played on, with each displaying their unique skills and movements to strategically score against the opposing side. Ultimately, Xinhui remained resilient and pushed through, winning the game by a staggering 6 points.

The team had just secured their first win of the day, providing a strong start for the subsequent matches. It was at this point that everyone knew: they had their eyes set on the title.

Liu Manyu and Chu Wangxihan during a rally.

Next up was the doubles match with Captain Liu Manyu (26S03E) and Vice Captain Chu Wangxihan (26S06T) at the forefront. Both players demonstrated strong agility and deftness, returning shots effortlessly while scoring points in the process. Coupled with their strong chemistry, they managed to achieve quick wins over their opponents.

However, as both pairs played on, the margins became tighter. When it was down to the final game, it seemed that the opposing side was mounting a comeback. Yet, the Captain-Vice Captain pair resiliently pressed on, eventually winning the match 3-0, bringing the total tally to 2-0 in favour of RI. 

Then came Naomi’s turn to seal the title win in her singles match. In this match, both players came in raring to go, playing a far more intense and fast-paced game. This was especially so for her opponents, as it was the deciding match for them to reclaim their grip on the title.

As such, this match saw quick rallies, as both players attempted to win points as soon as possible to secure a head start. Naomi’s opponent played with a fiery passion, striking the ball with vigour and scoring points in explosive rallies.

But Naomi stood strong as she dexterously returned the incoming shots, regaining her control of the match. Whenever there was a window of opportunity to attack, she energetically delivered smashes with no hesitation.

When it came down to the last game of the match, RI was up by 2-1. However, Naomi was not complacent. She knew that her opponent would give it her all in this final game, but she was ready to give hers, too.

Both sides fought ferociously, each inching up the scoreboard. The rest of the team, along with their supporters, watched with bated breath. Then came a point in time when Naomi finally had control of the ball. 

With much fervour, she struck the ball towards her opponent. It was the shot that won the game. 

Soon after, the arena suddenly crescendoed into a frenzy of cheers and claps. The victory may have belonged to the girls’ team, but every supporter seemed to collectively bask in the team’s euphoria. 

The Girls’ Team cheering each other on after a match.

With newfound energy and confidence, the team looked beyond the win and toward becoming the best.

That spirit was clearly seen as Aleenta Quek (27S06B) and Ang Rae Shyn represented the team in the second doubles match. Working closely together, they managed to put up a strong offence and swiftly accomplished another win at 3-0. This added another point to the overall tally at 4-0.

Eu Kei Yi (27S06E) placed the cherry on top in the final singles match. With a series of aggressive drives and nimble defences, she landed the final victory over her opponents with a score of 3-0. 

This brought our ultimate tally to 5-0, comfortably sealing the deal as overall champions—a reflection of the true tenacity, talent and teamwork of the players. 

The Girls’ Team after receiving the trophy. (Photo provided by Aleenta)

As both teams went up to receive their trophy at the end of the competition, their faces glowed with pride. It was a moment where their happiness truly felt contagious, spreading through the vociferously cheering crowd.

While the players went about the arena taking pictures with their teammates and ardent supporters, we managed to talk to a few of them and their coaches to find out more about what they experienced during the game.

Captain Manyu shared her favourite moment from the day, “It was probably when all of our teammates cheered together. It was really nice to see everyone support each other and give each other constructive feedback in between sets.” 

Along the same vein, Aleenta mentioned how she hoped that the team can stay united as they continue improving for the next season.

As for Ang Rae Shyn, the third match was the most memorable for her. She shared, “We were up against a strong opponent, so we just cheered for our teammate and hoped for the best!” Looking back at that nail-biting deciding match, it was indeed clear that both players gave it their all. 

Speaking to Coach Mr Zhang Jun Ming, he shared that he was proud of how well the team displayed their technique. He mentioned, “I think you’ve seen certain parts where, you know, it’s like ‘humanly impossible’, but they did it.”

When asked about the team’s overall performance, Captain Manyu shared:

Truly, a match well fought by the Girls’ team.

One last cheer with the team before the match started.

Ultimately, the process of getting to where they are today was not always a smooth sailing one, but the sheer determination of the players and their unity as one team allowed them to push through regardless of what obstacles they faced. 

While the Y6s may be saying goodbye as the Y5s embark on their new journey as a team, this victory will remain with them long after. 

Of course, it will not just be the win that they remember, but also the friends and memories made along the way. 

Girls’ Table Tennis Team:

Y6:

Liu Manyu (26S03E) (Captain)

Chu Wangxihan (26S06T) (Vice-Captain)

Kaydon Arianne Tan (26S03F)

Rianne Lee Rui En (26S03M)

Low Tze Hsuen (26S03J)

Hu Xinhui (26S03H)

Y5:

Naomi Lum En Xi (27S06L)

Ang Rae Shyn (Hong Ruixin) (27S03A)

Poh Yu Xuan (27S06B)

Eu Kei Yi (Yang Jiayi) (27S06E)

Aleenta Quek Zi Le (27S06B)

Poh Kai Lin Loewe (27S03I)