QUEK EYES LOFTIER GOALS

He repeats treble with singles gold, now targets Asian Games, world rankings surge

- Melvyn Teoh

Izaac Quek beating Indonesia's Bima Abdi Negara 4-0 to clinch the table tennis men's singles crown on Dec 19. He had earlier won the men's team gold on Dec 14 and partnered Koen Pang for the men's doubles title on Dec 17.

(ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO)

Having retained his treble of SEA Games table tennis titles, Singapore's Izaac Quek has set his sights on bigger goals.

The world No. 139, who completed back-to-back hat-tricks after defeating Indonesia’s unranked Bima Abdi Negara 4-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-3, 13-11) on Dec 19, is aiming to do well at the Asian Games and wants to climb up the world rankings in 2026.

He said: “Right now there'll be other goals. The next SEA Games will be in another two years, so for now, I’m just focusing on the Asian Games, focusing on getting my world ranking up.

“I'll definitely not stop here, getting two triple gold medals. I think that there’s much more that’s coming, so I hope that I can do better and do well in higher-level tournaments as well.”

The 19-year-old got off to a slow start at the Central Westgate Mall as the Indonesian, 28, led twice in the opening two sets.