Table tennis triumph for Ernest Bevin College (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Table tennis triumph for Ernest Bevin College

1:37pm Thursday 26th January 2012 in Round-up

Table tennis players from Ernest Bevin College triumphed in the team finals of the new London Schools’ Table Tennis Championship held at Redbridge Sports Centre earlier this month.

The boys U19 team of Ross Hagen, 13, Joseph Langham-Ferraira, 15, Emere Ibatoglu, Murry Wilson, both 17, and Antoney Pattin, 18, took top honours in their category against schools from across London in the competition hosted by the English Table Tennis Associaton (ETTA). “This is a great competition and it’s great to be playing at this level," said coach Mark Smith.

"The school invested in tables which is really paying off and means we can provide outreach for local primary and special needs schools.”

Fircroft Primary School's boys U11 team of Joseph Raskino, Suliman Akbar, Joel MacPherson, all aged 9, and Matteo Williams, 10, finished runners up in their category.

The players will now turn their attentions to the Jack Petchey London Schools’ Table Tennis Championships, which involves individual and team competitions for pupils at U11, U13, U16 and U19 age groups, the regional individual rounds for which kick off this month.

“This project is aimed at increasing participation and awareness of table tennis in London schools prior to the Olympic Games," added Harry Peacock, project officer for the ETTA.

"It means that for many it will be the first time in their lives they will get to play table tennis and for others it’s about being able to compete.”