League leaders Royal Perak Golf Club (RPGC) lost their three point lead as they fell to rivals Perak Turf Club @ YMCA (PTC) in a clash of the titans third round tie of the KLK Premier Inter-Club Tennis League. The win puts PTC level with RPGC at 10 points all; however RPGC still remains top of the table on games difference between the two clubs. This precarious lead puts pressure on both clubs to win as many points as possible in the remaining ties.
All eyes were on this much anticipated third tie between the two leading clubs, but an experiment with pairings proved disastrous for RPGC, as PTC exploited their opponents’ weaknesses with no mercy nor mistake. “We took a chance and paid the price heavily,” admits RPGC Captain, Eric Tan. “All credit to PTC for putting up a very strong team in all the categories.”
Team PTC was seen jumping for joy and punching their fists as they celebrated what they modestly described as an “unexpected victory”.
The only pair who won for RPGC was Ken Chong/Tan Chee Phong in the Men’s 110 category, who had no trouble disposing of PTC’s Dato’ Guna/Chan Wan Kong 8-2.
In the Men’s Open, PTC’s Kiko Thadani and Dr Foo Joo Ee had a very easy 8-2 win over the younger RPGC pair of Dr Lee Mun Wai/Jansen Lew. In the Men’s 90s, Alex Chai/Ng Keh Tat put up a close and brave fight for RPGC, before fatigue took over and they succumbed to the fully charged pair of PTC Team Captain Chow Seng Wai and Loo Eu Jin 8-4 who never took their feet off the pedal.
In the Mixed, Ian Lean/Fiona Toh of PTC continued their dominance with an 8-2 thumping of RPGC’s Ng Keh Jun/Emilie Ooi. RPGC Ladies Captain, Lingli Chong, and partner Rita Tan, also lost 8-5 to PTC’s Pinky Leong/Ivene Chan, who were on form and on fire on the day.
Across the golf course, and over at Ipoh Swimming Club (ISC) the tie between ISC and Polo Tennis Club (Polo) was closer. ISC drew first blood with a resounding 8-0 win by Khoo Peng Keat/Richard Wong over Polo’s Zhafran Mohd/Rosli Shafie in the Men’s Open. Polo came back immediately with an 8-3 win by Faisal Mokhtar/Daud Idris over the ISC pair of Kenny Lai/Lam Kar Wai in the Men’s 90.
Polo Men’s 110 pair of Idris Noor/Nik Shahrom also proved too strong for ISC’s Simon Yeap/Lee Kam Boon, overcoming the latter 8-3. Victory was sealed for Polo when Amir Syahrul/Jane Foo beat ISC’s Anthony Chin/Cecilia Yip 8-5, in a mesmerising and high quality game that encapsulated the best of mixed doubles. Determined to gain an extra point for ISC, their valiant ladies pair of Shamaine Chong/Vestene Chan held nothing back to claim victory from Polo pair Safira Yusof/Ganeshwari 8-2.
All in all, an intriguing third tie that saw RPGC’s comfortable lead taken away in what some might call a “shock defeat” on home ground, PTC draw level with precision pairing, a first win for Polo which they will certainly make sure will not be the last, and ISC put up a brave fight against all the odds.
Follow Ipoh Echo for more updates on the KLK Tennis League as it enters the business end of the tournament.
