ssc_marcomms posted on June 27, 2010 09:19
The Singapore Women's National Table Tennis team waving to the crowds during their victory parade.(Photo:John Heng/SSC)
The recently crowned World Table Tennis Champions paraded around Singapore on Saturday, 26 June to celebrate their victorious win over China at the LIEBHERR 2010 World Team Table Tennis Championships last month.
Present on the Hippo Bus were table tennis stars Feng Tianwei, Li Jiawei, Wang Yuegu, Yu Mengyu, Sun Beibei, Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC and President of the Table Tennis Association Er Lee Bee Wah and the female team’s coach Zhou Shusen.
Starting off from the Singapore Table Tennis Association headquarters in Toa Payoh, the stars made their first appearance at Khatib Plaza where they were loudly greeted by their fans when they arrived. Each Singapore player gave a short thank-you speech, mainly thanking Er Lee Bee Wah, Zhou Shusen and Singapore for the support given.
Fans and members of the public anxiously waited for their turn as they queued to get their posters signed. Some even brought their paddles to be autographed on.
Before departing from Khatib, Guest-of-Honour, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Mr Teo Chee Hean flagged off the start of their victory parade.
The next stop for the stars was the National Library along Bras Basah Road.
The public were given a chance to challenge the players in a short doubles’ game. Following which, the team was given a tour of the public library where a corner was set up specially dedicated to the sport of table tennis.
If fans missed the autograph signing session in the morning, they were not to be disappointed as they had another opportunity at Velocity@Novena, which was the final stopover for the team before their parade down Orchard Road. Once again, the team was loudly greeted by screaming fans upon their arrival.
Three lucky fans were invited onstage to play a game with the stars. With each fan paired up with a Singapore team player, they were required to each hold one side of the chopsticks and work together to transfer the ping pong balls from one container to another.
The table tennis stars then obliged by leading the Cheer Singapore song, together with “Rexaz”, the dance group from the Republic Polytechnic.
The Table Tennis Fan Club then presented a token to the team which held their well-wishing and personalised congratulatory notes to the stars.
Holding the Championship Cup up on board the Hippo Bus, the players waved to members of the public in Orchard Road which soon marked the end of the Victory Parade.
For more photos, click here.