Cambridge University Table Tennis Club’s (CUTTC) men have enjoyed a successful fortnight, narrowly missing out on top spot in the Premier South Division of the BUCS league before a strong performance at the annual Cambridge and District Table Tennis League Invitational tournament on 3rd February.

Going into the final league match against Imperial without the number two ranked Wing Yung Chan, the men came away with an impressive 10-7 victory. Cambridge captain and number one Nicholas Leung played outstandingly to win all four of his singles matches and, partnered by Takehiro Kojima, achieved equal success in the doubles. Kojima won three of his individual battles, while Anthony Sun won two, playing superbly but missing out against Imperial’s number one and two. The result left the men joint top of the league on 15 points, as they rue the all-important loss to King’s London two weeks ago.

At the Cambridge and District Invitational tournament in St. Neots, reigning champion and first seed Hamish Yeung easily advanced through the first round before facing last years runner up Martyn Livermore in the quarter-final. In a repeat of last years final, Yeung overcame his opponent 3-1 to advance into the semis, where he comfortably beat Mirek Pazdzior 3-0. Facing up to Alex Facey in the singles final, Yeung was unable to emulate the success of last year as he struggled to counter the aggressive play of his opponent in the first two games. He adjusted quickly in the third, but was powerless to prevent an eventual 11-9 loss, going down in straight sets to the newly crowned champion.

Earlier Takerhiro Kojima had easily disposed of the Shaun Murray, ranked 350 in the UK, and saw off CUTTC Club Secretary Patrick Worasaran 3-0 before an unexpected quarter-final defeat to Pazdzior, the fourth seed pulling off an 11-9 victory in the 5th set to set up his ultimately ill-fated match with Yeung. 

In the doubles competition, Patrick Worasaran and Anthony Barbier achieved a comfortable 3-0 victory in the preliminary round to advance into the quarter-finals, where they lost a tight match with the eventual runners up, the 3-1 scoreline flattering their opponents.

Kojima and Yeung fared better, easily winning their quarter final to set up a tough semi-final with Martin Freeland and Daniel Fielding. A close game with some electric rallies, the CUTTC pair eventually prevailed 3-2 to advance into the final. Worn from their earlier battle with Worasaran and Barbier, their opponents were no match as Kojima and Yeung convincingly beat them 3-0 to be crowned men’s doubles Champions.