Bath GP Preview Feb 17

Bath Table Tennis Grand Prix
University of Bath
Feb 11th & 12th

This is the first time a Table Tennis England GP has come to Bath in around 20 years and it’s an event that no Bath/Bristol based table tennis player should miss.

175 table tennis players will attend this two day event which will include former Olympic torch bearers, up and coming internationals and one gold medal winner. There are separate men’s and women’s events along with a doubles event; with equal prize money for both genders.

Darius Knight will be hoping to keep his lead overall in this competition with his rival Chris Doran standing in his way on the other side of the draw in the main event. Youngsters Helshan Weerasinghe and Callum Evans will also fancy their chances in this tournament but will have to play at their very best to get past the top two seeds.

Paralympic gold medal winner Will Bayley will compete in the Band 1 event and will add his name to the many Olympic athletes who have played at the University.

Haoyn Liu is the player to beat for the ladies with training partner Hannah Hicks expected to be her closest rival. My tip to cause an upset is Yolanda King with Kate Cheer also capable of competing with the very best in this tournament.

There is of course local interest in this tournament with Bath League players such as Scott Cooper, Paul Jeffery and Leon Kashdan-Brown competing. This will be their first tournaments with all three going into Bands 5 and 6, Cooper is also going into the veterans competition.

One to watch in this GP is Louis Price who will be taking part in Band 3 & 4. The 12 year old is building up his points and is already looking ahead to Olympic glory as he is out growing the Bristol Table Tennis scene. His biggest test will be in the under 21s group stage where he is up against Callum Evans and Carl Baldry – that group is a must watch!

Hope to see you up there for the 2 day event!

 

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