Cheung Yuk of Hong Kong hits a return against Jeong Sangeun of the Republic of Korea during their preliminary-round table tennis match for the 2009 East Asian Games in Hong Kong yesterday. Hong Kong lost 2:3. Edmond Tang

HONG KONG: Table-tennis team competition opened the 2009 East Asian Games preliminary contests yesterday. However, the Hong Kong men's table-tennis team didn't have an auspicious start, even though the support from the spectators rocked the Queen Elizabeth Stadium.

Hong Kong got off to a perfect start against the Republic of Korea team when Cheung Yuk took the opening by defeating Jeong Sangeun. However, Hong Kong failed to nail the victory in the next two games. Hong Kong's Ko Lai-chak then evened the score at 2-2 by defeating Jeong again. However, Cheung came up short, lost the final game, and the match, to Lee Jinkwun.

However, the Chinese women and men's table-tennis teams paddled to easy victories, with no serious opposition.

Zhang Yining, Guo Yue and Wang Nan from the Chinese women's table-tennis team passed up no opportunities yesterday.

The trio shut out Macao with a straight 3:0 performance in the morning. Eight hours later, they dispatched Japan - seen as a formidable competitor challenging the Chinese team - with a repeat 3:0 shutout.

The Chinese men's team also took on Macao in the first preliminary round. It took the three young Chinese players 34 minutes to whack their way to their easy shutout victory over their countrymen.

Qin Zhijian, coach of the Chinese men's table-tennis team said the purpose of the preliminary competition was to exercise and warm up his young players. He said the humid weather in Hong Kong speeded up the ball, but it didn't handicap their play, since the opponents were not strong enough. However, Qin felt that these young players will need to avoid being too tense in upcoming matches.

World Champion Wang Hao did not participate in the team competition yesterday. Wang said it was important to leave more opportunities for the up-and-coming players, since what they need most is the practical experience.

In other preliminary table-tennis contests yesterday, the Republic of Korea prevailed against Chinese Taipei, winning 3:1 in the men's table-tennis team, while Chinese Taipei snatched a victory in the women's table-tennis team competition, edging out the Republic of Korea's women's team 3:2 in return.

Football, basketball and volleyball also debuted in the preliminary phase yesterday. These early contests will last for three days, until December 4, the day before the lighting of the flame for the Games.

It is the first international multi-sports event Hong Kong has ever hosted. However, attendance in the first preliminary day was not encouraging. Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Vincent Liu said low attendance during preliminary contests was normal among most international sports events, particularly given that it was a weekday yesterday.

"The tickets on sale this time are all full-day passes, which entitle spectators to watch any competitions in the same venue on a whole-day basis. As many people have to work during the daytime, like today, I believe the attendance will be up at night, especially when Hong Kong teams are participating in the games," said Liu.

As for upcoming events, cue sports are scheduled to chalk up from today. Hong Kong snooker player Marco Fu Ka-chun will appear in the first round.

(HK Edition 12/03/2009 page1)