As was widely expected, Yu Wang won the silver medal in the women’s singles event yesterday morning.

The favourite, Luxembourg’s Ni Xia Lian, was in a class of her own as she beat our local hero 11-6, 11-3 and 14-12.

She showed superiority all round as she played fast and aggressive table-tennis all the way which completely upset Yu. The latter, however, made a brave fight in the third set and forced the Luxembourg No. 1 to the 14th point before conceding the set and the match.

Earlier, Wang had defeated Gergana Atanasova of Cyprus 11-8, 11-3, 11-8 to reach the final, while Ni Xia Lian beat San Marino’s Yan Chimei 10-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 in a very tense and interesting semi-final.

After the final, Yu said she was not happy at having lost the final. “I wanted to win gold, but she was very strong. I did my best but it was not enough. Ni Xia Lian played better, but I would have been happier had I won one or two sets,” she said.

Wang added she was satisfied with the outcome of the table-tennis events here in Monaco. “I have won a silver medal and two bronze and that is not bad for a first appearance at these Games. I hope I can continue playing for Malta in future, if given the chance,” she added.

Coach Tanya Hoffmann told The Malta Independent on Sunday that Yu was a bit slow today. “When you are under pressure, it becomes more difficult and against an opponent like Ni Xia Lian, one has to be on the alert every moment. She is fast, aggressive and very intelligent, despite her 44 years. No wonder she has been European champion twice in the past,” she said.

Hoffmann said the tournament here was of a low standard. “There were just three players who were above the level of all the others. The three Chinese girls representing Luxembourg, Malta and San Marino were simply superior and no other girl could get near to them. Yet such a tournament is priceless. Look at the number of people around. Look at the enthusiasm. Everyone wants to win and that is good for the sport and even the Games in general,” she said.

Hoffman also commented on the fact that all matches were close. “It was difficult to win matches here. All the squads or most of them, were very tight. We had to fight hard to win our medals as there was not much difference between one team and another, even in the men's sector. Yet, we must be content with a silver and two bronzes in the girls events,” she said.

Table-Tennis Association chairman Joe Borg Cardona, who arrived here on Thursday, said it was certainly a disappointment to have lost two gold medals won in Andorra. “Levels were higher here, no doubt, as Cyprus and Luxembourg brought over their best players. Our problem lies in the fact that we do not take part frequently in the tournaments around Europe. Such participation in international events will help us to improve our levels, but we cannot solve such a problem easily. We certainly lack the funds to make it happen,” he said.

Borg Cardona said he and the association were grateful to the Maltese Olympic Committee for their continuous support. “Without that we can do nothing. But we need even more support. We hope to be able to convince the Maltese Council for Sport to enable our elite players to have more playing opportunities abroad,” he added.

Asked about Simon Gerada and his sudden drop in form, Borg Cardona said the Maltese player was not passing through a good moment at present. “If he wants to upgrade his levels, he needs to play more frequently in Europe. To do that, we have to spend around Lm5,000 every year on him alone. And we are not in a position to finance anyone, at least at present.

As for Yu Wang, Borg Cardona was full of praise for the little girl from China. “We did not expect her to beat the Luxembourg No. 1 who is also ranked 40th in the world. Xia Lian’s level is higher and that was evidenced in this final. We are proud of Yu and we hope we will be able to give her a contract which will lead her to the next Games edition in Cyprus in 2009,” she said.

Asked about the possibility of Tanya Hoffman becoming eligible to play for Malta in two years’ time. Borg Cardona said: “She is still a German. She plays for a German club while she travels frequently to Malta to coach the locals. At a moment in time, we will discuss with her such a possibility and perhaps we will be able to offer her an attractive contract which might lure her to stay in Malta,” he said.