Will Me On

English Table Tennis Association (ETTA) News: Swede Success for Houdini Hannah

This article, by Geoff Ware, illustrates the necessity for (and benefits of) young table tennis pros training abroad.

The late and great Richard Bergmann, winner of seven world championships, was probably the greatest defensive player of any era. However, one of the most memorable aspects of his play was the vast number of occasions when he was out of the game and beaten, yet still managed to come back and win!

He would have been proud of a young 17 year old girl from Hampshire, Hannah Hicks, who seems to be acquiring an even more frightening reputation and this in games only up to eleven. In last weekend’s Soderspelen Grand Prix held on 24th and 25th January 2009, in Boros, near Gothenburg, Hannah was a revelation and hailed the comeback queen.

Olympic table tennis dreams threatened over funding worries

One of the challenges facing table tennis champ Will Maybanks away from the table is securing funding - and he's far from alone. Its not just individuals who struggle to find a way to fund their sporting ambitions though... this short video report for BBC Look North reports how "the Olympic prospect of two South Yorkshire talents could be hurt if a Sheffield training centre fails to win funding." Given that this is not just any training centre - it's actually the English Institute of Sport (EIS), you have to wonder whether Britiain is truly committed to encouraging more young people to take up sport for pleasure and/or competitively.

Watch the report here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7842598.stm