West London Ping’s Big Weekend

Eamon Brennan – 22nd June 2018

With the Jack Petchey London Championships scheduled for Saturday June the 9th and the London Youth Games due on the very next day, it was always going to be a very busy weekend for table tennis players from West London. Whether it would prove to be a successful weekend was another matter. As it turned out, the results were very pleasing indeed on both days. for the West London Ping competitors there was to be one final, four semi-finals and three added quarter finals. Player of the day was undoubtedly Fox Primary’s, Francesco Bonato, who reached the finals of the under 11 boy’s Championships, and his older sister Federica, also had a good day going out finally in the semi finals of the Under 16 girls event. Another good performance too from Chelsea Academy’s high flying Harry Derecki, saw him reach the semi-finals of the boy’s Under 13 Championships.

Special mention also to Annie Williams from Barnes Primary and John Klass from William Hogarth Primary who both won their respective Under 11 groups with Annie going on to the semi-finals, whilst John was very pleased to get as far as the quarter finals.

It was an even better day for West London Ping partner, London Academy, who did the treble by winning both the boys and the girls Under 16 titles and the Under 19 girls event. Congratulations to Mihnea Dascalu, Patrica Ianau and sister Natalia.

But there was little time to rest or celebrate, as many of the above participants were back in action for their respective boroughs in the London Youth Games the very next day. And it was most definitely to be a good day at the office for the West London boroughs with Hammersmith taking the Boys title in a thrilling final against Barnet and Barnet reversing the honours by beating Hammersmith to take the Girls title. And in a magnificent performance, a very young Kensington and Chelsea boy’s team, consisting of Harry Derecki and Benji Mencer, overturned the odds and took the bronze medal with both Harry and Benji put in some absolutely sublime performances.

The K&C girls team, consisting of Arianna Di-Giammarino and Nadia Zoppos, were also in strong form, reaching the semi-finals and finishing a very respectable fourth place.

These great results owe much to the hard work of the respective coaches, particularly Bhavin Savjani from the London Academy, Sherwin Remata from Moberley Table Tennis Club, Natasha Moura from Fox Primary and Philip Sangchin from the Brunswick Table Tennis Club. We salute your dedication. And a special mention to the Epic team for their continued commitment to table tennis.

With those two tournaments under the belt, it will be all eyes on the National Under 10-13 Championships this weekend and then, as a finale to the season, the first of the brand new London Community Ranking tournaments to be held at the London Academy on the 30th June. On- line entry is now available on the westlondonping.co.uk website. Both juniors and adults are welcome to enter and with six bands to choose from, every standard is catered for including a polybat table for those who prefer to play without a net.