With China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and Singapore occupying the top five women's team places in the world and six Chinese women, two Singaporeans, one from Hong Kong and one from South Korea dominating the top 10 in singles, the Thai team face a mission impossible at the 15th Asian Games.

Thailand's women's team is 24th in the world rankings and seventh among Asian nations. Only local ace Nanthana Kamwong is in the top 100 women's singles rankings at No 87.

"As all the top teams are from Asia, we don't stand a chance in Doha," said coach and team manager Korakij Sermkijseree. "Our players are at the amateur level, but players from China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore are at the professional level. So you can figure out what it's like to send amateurs to play against the pros."

Thailand's four-member squad, which also includes Anisara Muangsook, Sujirat Ratanaprayoon and Thidaporn Wongboon, have trained together for four months for the Asiad and before that they trained individually.

The table tennis squad will take part in the Asian Games for the first time in eight years.

"We'd love to win a medal, but unfortunately all the world class teams are in Asia. The road is very long and rough, but we will keep trying," said Sujirat of her debut in the continental event.

While three of her team-mates have been sharpening their skills at home since August, Nanthana was sent to join the pro tour to gain international experience and earn ranking points. Nanthana, who is playing on a circuit in Montpelier, France, won an historic silver medal for Thailand at the SEA Games in Manila last year, a feat no Thai had ever achieved.

However, the team manager described regional developments in table tennis as an "unfortunate event" that has been holding back the development of the sport in Thailand. Talented Chinese players have been given Singaporean nationality, making the island state the powerhouse of table tennis in Southeast Asia.

But he said his team has been streamlined and are getting close to the level of Singaporean players over the past few years.

"After Nanthana beat Zhang Xueling, who was then No 2 for Singapore, in last year's SEA Games, it was proof that we are catching up to Singapore. If we get enough support to send our players to gain more experience on the tour, we can match them," said Korakij.

Despite the odds against his team, Korakij said the squad has had good management and he hopes Thailand can at least cause some upsets in Doha, even if they don't win a medal.

"If our players can perform at their top level, we hope to beat some teams like Singapore or Taiwan. But our main goal in the Asian Games is to retain our position as No 7 in Asia, " said Korakij, a former national junior player.

Lerpong Amsa-Ngiam

The Nation