IHRG Updates!

Carrom

By Meng YewOur Carrom team this year consisted of mainly freshmen and it was really hard to find people but with the gracious assistance and enthusiasm from our JCRC president Lawrence, we managed to pull in enough members to participate. Senior Kai Leong was one of our better players and he proved to be one of the best as he and Lawrences took the mens doubles with ease in round 6 and 7. Although many of our players were new to the game, it can proudly be said that Hall 2 has put up a decent fight against other halls as we managed to keep them at bay with draws and sometimes a win.
Although it was tiring and we did not manage to advance further, it was a good experience nonetheless for our players and i believe that with proper and organised training for next year 's games , with the caliber and pure talent of existing players, it is highly possible that Hall 2 can improve our carrom standards.

Snooker

By Lim Han Zhen

In this year’s IHRG, Hall 2 was pitted against Hall 3, 8 and 9 in the group stage. Players to watch for this year are Lai Koon, Kok Peng and Clive, who were among the core players from last year’s Snooker IHRG.

Our first opponent was against Hall 8. The team manager, Han Zhen, was tactically brilliant. His ingenious team selection meant that he himself was soundly beaten by the IVP captain playing for Hall 8 in the first 4-ball game. However, Tony managed to score a win in the second 4-ball game, while Lai Koon and Clive did not disappoint and pick up wins in Snooker as well. This means that Hall 2 managed to garner their first team victory in our maiden round. The mood was buoyant, emotions were running high and we were all confident we can go beyond the group stage into the quarterfinals.

In the second round, we went head to head with Hall 9 in the winner’s bracket. IF Hall 2 win this round, we will have qualified for the quarterfinals. Alas, luck was not with Hall 2. Although Kok Peng and Dylan put up a terrific fight in the 4-ball segment, Hall 9’s players were able to keep their cool and score victories in both games. Confidence buoyed after 2 wins, Hall 9’s Snooker players also played to their full abilities and notched up wins for their Hall. However, not all is lost. Hall 2, having won the first round, still has the chance to advance if they manage to win round 3, the runner-ups bracket.

Hall 8 managed to stage a comeback in their second round against Hall 3, knocking Hall 3 out of the tournament and thus securing a rematch with Hall 2. The stage is all set for an explosive finale. Our 4-ball players, Kok Peng and Tony, managed to take the lead at various points of their games. Yet Lady Luck did not favour our Hall 2 players and both the opponents managed heartbreaking comeback victories. Yet, we kept our hopes up. We did not despair. In our darkest moments, we look to Lai Koon, Clive and Han Zhen to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Clive played well and truly to his abilities and managed a comfortable win over his opponent. In an exciting Snooker match, Lai Koon was initially in deep water as he picked up a couple of unfortunate fouls but a heroic fight back had the crowd holding its breath towards the end of the game. Alas, the opponent played a highly defensive game and Lai Koon was unable to steer team towards victory. Thus was the fifth Snooker game not played and Han Zhen unable to display his budding Snooker potential in this year’s IHRG.

Although Hall 2 did not manage to progress beyond the preliminary round this year, the Hall 2 players have tried their very best, and but for a stroke of luck, Hall 2 will be contesting in the quarterfinals. However, do not despair, for this defeat had only managed to spur us on and fuel our burning desire to even better the next time round. Rest assured that for the next Snooker IHRG, Hall 2 will come out with all guns blazing!

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