Nanyang Polytechnic, Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - National University of Singapore (NUS) booked their place in the IVP table tennis men’s team final after defeating hosts Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) 3-1 in the semi-finals.

Fei Sheng Hua got the ball rolling for last year’s runners-up in the first singles when he swiftly dispatched his NYP opponent 11-7, 11-8, 11-6.

Han Shuai doubled his side’s lead in the second singles match when his quality was of no match to NYP’s Gan Wei Jie in a straight sets win 11-6, 11-8, 11-3.

Trailing by two games to none, the home team’s captain Kirk Bing Lin paired up with Benjamin Koh to take on NUS duo of Joshua Loh and Ong Wee Sern.

For NUS, it was a straightforward task: win and the team are through; for NYP, it was a fight to stay alive and force another game.

The pairs traded shots at each other in a tense first set, refusing to give anything away on a platter. It eventually took Kirk’s wide shot to hand the game to NUS at 12-10.

NYP’s determination and hunger to stay in contention ensured that their doubles pair would not surrender without a fight.

These qualities got the better of their opponents as they leveled the match by taking the second set 11-4.

NUS produced their forceful play to take the third set 11-8 while NYP dug deep to secure the fourth 11-8 and force the deciding fifth set.

After Kirk and Koh raced to an early 5-2 lead in the final set, Loh and Ong clawed back to level the game at 6-all and attempted to seal the outcome of the semi-final.

Once again, the hosts’ hunger prevailed when they clinched game point at 11-9 and forced the fourth game of the series.

The third singles between NUS skipper Ni Qi and NYP best player Shen Jia Ru had all the ingredients of a thrilling encounter.

With little separating two technically excellent players, it would boil down to who would prevail at the crunch.

With the first set evenly poised at 9-all, Ni’s powerful return had Shen backpedalling in vain to set up game point at 10-9. He duly delivered by producing a winner out of his opponent’s reach.

The NUS top paddler set up another gear in his play when his powerful strokes gave him an early 5-1 second set lead.

Both paddlers produced fine exciting rallies to keep the contest interesting, but Ni’s more accurate returns made the difference as he wrapped up the second set 11-7.

It was Shen’s turn to up the ante in the third set when he produced an array of strokes to force Ni into difficult and awkward returns in securing the game 11-7.

Ni produced a near flawless display of attacking table tennis in the fourth and final set when he outplayed Shen to wrap up the match 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-1 and help NUS reach Thursday’s (15 January) final.

He recalled how the minor setback in the third set got him so focused in the final game. “When I lost the third set, I know I cannot let myself and my teammates down further."

“Thus I really put in 200% concentration in the final set, hearing nothing but the ball. My strategy was to attack on his weaknesses and do my best to win the game for my team.”

With the win, NUS will take on NTU in a repeat of last year’s team final after the latter thrashed Singapore Polytechnic in the other semi-final 3-0.