After four days of intense table tennis, Singapore’s junior paddlers claimed a Gold and Bronze in the U-11’s category at the WTT Youth Contender Bangkok 2025.

In the Boys U11 Singles, Lian Yunyi, 10, who is currently in the Junior Development Squad (JDS) set up in STTA, clinched his first WTT Youth title when he defeated Andya Mohammed of Iraq in a five set thriller, eventually prevailing 15-13, 11-13, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8 for the 3-2 victory.

He had earlier beaten teammate Conor Khoo in the quarterfinals (11-7, 11-6, 11-6) and ended the hopes of home favourite Panawit Sadetheerakij in a 3-1 (12-10, 11-5, 5-11, 15-13) victory in the semifinal.

Yunyi’s fellow JDS team mate, Ethel Chen, 9, punched above her age as she clinched a joint-bronze in the Girls U11 Singles competition. After finishing 2nd in her group and qualifying for the knock out rounds, she received a bye in the Round of 16 before taking on Thailand’s Nutchayavee Sattayawuthipong, 10, in the quarterfinals, where she triumphed 3-0 (11-7, 12-10, 12-10).

Against an opponent two years older than her in Yong Wan Suan of Malaysia in the semifinals, she gave it her all but eventually succumbed to a 3-0 defeat (1-11, 8-11, 2-11).

The successes of these two juniors is testament of the systematic training programmes put in place by the STTA in the hopes of grooming the next generation of Singapore paddlers.