RESPECT FOR QUEK, PANG

S'poreans show sportsmanship in defeat, conceding point to opponents

- Melvyn Teoh

Singapore's Koen Pang and Izaac Quek (front) in action during their 3-2 WTT Singapore Smash defeat by Horacio Cifuentes and Santiago Lorenzo of Argentina in the men's doubles last 16 at the OCBC Arena on Feb 24.

(ST PHOTO: GIN TAY)

A last-16 defeat for home favourites Izaac Quek and Koen Pang at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash may never make it into their career highlights' reels.

But their act of sportsmanship in the men's doubles match at The Kallang's OCBC Arena on Feb 24 is unlikely to be forgotten by their fans and rivals any time soon.

With the score tied at 5-5 in the deciding set, the Singapore duo were handed a vital point as the umpire deemed that their opponents, Argentina's world No. 30 pair Horacio Cifuentes and Santiago Lorenzo, were time-wasting when it was their turn to serve and handed them a red card.

The Argentinians protested as Quek and Pang were still in discussion and not ready for their serve.

The world No. 4 pair from Singapore agreed. When play resumed, Pang conceded the point, restoring parity at 6-6 and earning applause from the crowd.

The Argentinians eventually won 3-2 (11-13, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9) to reach the quarterfinals.

Quek said: "The red card was for time-wasting, but both of us were not ready, so technically, that's not really time-wasting...

"I said to the umpire that it's not fair and then the umpire said it is her decision, so we have to continue with the match.

"So we returned the point to them, which is deserved."