SINGAPORE — With history, momentum and a boisterous home crowd on his side, national para-paddler Jason Chee seemed perfectly poised to win the fifth and deciding set of last evening’s gold medal-deciding ASEAN Para Games (APG) singles Class 2 match against Thailand’s Natthawut Thinathet at the OCBC Arena.

After all, the Navy Serviceman had beaten Natthawut on five previous occasions, and was on the ascendency after winning the nail-biting fourth set 14-12, which levelled the scores at 2-2.

The prospect of creating history — by becoming the Republic’s first APG table tennis individual champion — was not lost on Chee.

Brows furrowed in concentration, he was a picture of focus and determination in the decider. Alas, it was not to be for the 32-year-old.

In an impressive display of ruthless accuracy and aggression, Natthawut held his nerve to beat Chee 11-6 for the gold.

After the match, Chee, who won a bronze at the Myanmar Para Games last year, put on a brave front. But his disappointment was clear. “It was a good match, a good fight overall,” he said. “I was happy with my performance especially in the fourth set when I fought back to win it.

“I thought I could take the fifth set. I tried different kinds of serves but the Thai still managed to return it well. Also, I missed several key return shots and I think that was the turning point in the match. But overall, he (Natthawut) did really well today.”

Chee — who lost both legs and his left arm in a shipboard accident in 2012 — had played a key role in Singapore’s gold-medal win in the men’s team Class 1-2 on Sunday. Then, he notched the winning point (3-1) against Thailand to secure Singapore’s first and only gold medal in the sport this year.

And Chee believes his previous battles against Natthawut allowed the Thais to devise a strategy to beat him. “Maybe his coach has examined my style and learnt how to exploit my weaknesses,” he explained. “I noticed he started aiming more balls towards my right, because my forehand is a bit weak.

“I’m disappointed, but I have to carry on and try not to be too upset because I’ve claimed the silver after all, which was my initial target. I still have a lot to improve, and my next target will be the 2017 Para Games in Malaysia.”

Chee finished second ahead of compatriot Eric Ting, who clinched bronze after beating team-mate Darren Chua 3-1. Aaron Yeo and Lim Min-Chieh won a silver and bronze respectively in the Men’s Singles Class 1 event, while Evelyn Lim took silver in the Women Singles Class 11. NOAH TAN