The London Community Table Tennis Rankings gathers momentum

Eamon Brennan – 9th October 2018

The second London Table Tennis Ranking tournament was held at the weekend with yet another impressive turnout. Over one hundred and twenty-five competitors battled for honours throughout the day and though only six people were able to walk away with trophies, every player went home with an improved London ranking and a satisfying day’s competition.

The international flavour of the tournament was maintained when London Academy’s Nigerian born Adeyoye Adewale triumphed over fellow club mate, Alix Bell, to take the Band One title and the hundred-pound cash prize. In Band 2, Mihnea Dascalu, also a London Academy star, defeated Kojo Wuraola from the Dulwich Table Tennis Club. There were also wins for Leslie Samuels from the Wembley and Harrow League, his second victory in successive tournaments, and for Arjan Arora, the winner of Band 3.

In the Band 5 final there was an intriguing battle between veteran Wembley and Harrow pen-holder campaigner, Fanny Speck, and ten-year-old Nathan Barimah. On this occasion experienced triumphed over youthful energy though the battle was close, and the tables may soon be turned. In Band 6 there was a scintillating display of young table tennis and the final proved to be the icing on the cake. In a hard-fought knockout stage, it was Janak Shah who got the better of his Fox Primary opponent, Tristan Madayag. The two players proved to be great ambassadors for London table tennis in a display worthy of a national Final.

In addition to the usual strong contingent of London Academy players, there were large contingents from the Harris Invictus Academy in South London – yet another highly successful Greenhouse Sports table tennis school; from Brighton Table Tennis Club and from the West London Ping Primary School network. William Hogarth Primary in Chiswick was particularly well represented as were Fox Primary, Ashburnham Primary and Barnes Primary. From the London clubs there were competitors from Fusion, Moberley, Barnet, Dulwich and a host of other well-established clubs.

Parent Power in action.

One of the many highlights of the tournament was the spontaneous creation of a parents mini-competition. Starting with just three committed parents, after a little prompting from the organisers, no less than fourteen parents spent the entire afternoon showing their kids that they too have a love of ping every bit as passionate as their off-spring. Well done to Andy and Alex for winning their respective groups. Be warned – you will be required to compete in a winner-takes-all final encounter at the next tournament.

Two more London Ranking tournaments on the way

The next full London Ranking tournament is now scheduled for Sunday 2nd December but before that there will be an exciting London Ranking satellite tournament to be held at the prestigious new Greenhouse Sports Centre in North Westminster on Sunday 11th November. Email your entries to westlondonping@gmail.com asap because there will be a limited entry. Entry forms will be on our website: www. londonping.co.uk by the end of the week along with an updated ranking list. After just two tournaments London Ping is over a quarter of the way to reaching its 1000 player target. Be part of this ambitious project by supporting the tournaments and even co-hosting your own satellite event.

Thanks once again to our sponsors and partners, Top Spin Sports and BeTT/Table Tennis England; the London Ranking tournament team, Maggie, Eamon and Bhavin; the parents for their ongoing support, and of course, the London Academy team for their excellent facilities and warm hospitality.