

They beat PTC @ YMCA 3-0 to take home the coveted Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian Challenge Trophy, topping the table from start to finish
The first ever KLK Premier Inter Club Tennis League Ipoh has come to an end, with Royal Perak Golf Club (RPGC) defeating arch rivals Perak Turf Club @ YMCA (PTC) 3-0 in a surprisingly one-sided showdown. It was to be a “best of five match” tournament to decide the championship i.e. the team has to win at least three matches out of five, to win the championship.
The event, which took place on a Saturday evening at the neutral ground of Ipoh Swimming Club recently, had all the makings of a battle royale between Ipoh’s top two clubs. Going neck to neck in points in the race to the final, RPGC and PTC would be the top two contenders to the title and trophy, with 20 points and 19 points, respectively. The other two clubs were Polo Tennis Club (Polo) and Ipoh Swimming Club (ISC).
In true sporting spirit, supporters from both clubs, as well as spectators from the other two clubs in the league, ISC and Polo, showed up as early as 3pm for the tournament which was slated to start at 4pm. The weather was perfect. The stage was set. The air was filled with tension. The games began.
The Men’s Open Doubles and Combined 90 years Men’s Doubles played off first. In the Men’s 90, Alex Chai/Ng Keh Jun of RPGC proved too strong and solid for their PTC opponents, Chow Seng Wai/Ram Kumar. Flawless from start to finish, the RPGC pair played aggressive, dominating tennis, mixing power and pace with elegant drops and angled slices that left the PTC pair without any answers. They were in full control, winning the match comfortably 8-3 and giving RPGC a much desired first point. Although there were several deuces which could have gone either way and narrowed the scoreline, the RPGC pair were never in any real danger, whilst giving the crowd a brilliant display of tennis that drew oohs and aahs and left spectators in awe.




The Men’s Open, which saw Dominic Loh/Ng Keh Tat of RPGC taking on PTC’s Loo Eu Jin/Ian Lean, was a much more nail-biting affair – what everyone had expected and came to watch. They were not disappointed. This was a match that caused more than a few heart palpitations, as all four players rose to the top of their game, exhibiting immense court craft and tenacity, combining jaw dropping defence and brilliant attacks. There was raw power from the young men, but also soft hands and finesse when they came to the net. The crowd, mesmerised by the pulsating pace and wizardry of shots, got behind their team vicariously, breaking out in roars of joy and thunderous applause whenever their team hit a winning shot. They groaned in unison with each point lost. There were moments so quiet and filled with tension that you could hear a pin drop, other moments when the chanting and yelling of players’ names and “Come on”s became deafening.
This, in essence, is the spirit of tennis.
Each point was hard fought and hard won, every man determined to hold his serve and break his opponents. All four held their serves until Ian Lean was broken while serving at 5-6, providing the only break in the match, and taking RPGC to the brink of victory at 7-6. Dominic Loh was in no mood to allow PTC to take the match to a tie break. He would produce some of his best serves, successfully serving out the match 8-6, adding a second point for Team RPGC.
Only one more point needed for RPGC, and next up was the Mixed Doubles, featuring RPGC’s Agnes Mak/Giri Sitham against PTC’s Chan Wan Kong/Ivene Chan. Although the experienced PTC pair put up a brave fight, the power and might of their opponents was just too much for them, and it was a very one-sided match. The RPGC pair won it 8-1, thus giving their team the third win needed to secure the title.




It was game, set, match and championship to Team RPGC, who topped the table from start to finish. The Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian Challenge Trophy goes to them for the debut season 2024/2025.
The Ladies Doubles had barely started when the win came. PTC’s Fiona Toh had just held serve, with the score at 1-0 and Lingli serving for RPGC, when the match was abandoned. Her partner was Emilie Ooi. Fiona’s partner was Jillian Chong.
The Men’s Combined 110, featuring Eric Tan/Tan Chee Phong for RPGC and Dr Foo Joo Ee/Kiko Thadani for PTC, did not even start.




“The better team won”, PTC Captain Kiko Thadani acknowledged graciously. “For a small club with far less players than the star-studded RPGC, I’m very proud of my team and how we did. We even managed to give RPGC a scare in our previous encounters”, he grinned. Kiko also gave credit to the umpires for a job well done.


RPGC Ladies Captain Lingli Tan echoed similar sentiments of pride for her team and congratulated PTC for its consistent performance throughout the season, reaching the final with only one loss, and never having lost to RPGC, until the final. “We fielded our very top players for the final, and we got our pairings right”, she said.
“I’m super proud of our three winning pairs, they played amazing tennis today. I want to also appreciate every member of Team RPGC who fought so hard and contributed all the points needed to get us to the final. They are our everyday heroes who train hard and never lost sight of the goal when the going got tough”, she added.


The KLK Tennis League, which began in August 2024, consisted of a series of six matches, played among four clubs – RPGC, PTC, ISC and Polo. The teams played home and away matches over four months, resulting in RPGC being champions, PTC runners up, Polo in third place, and ISC last.

