Paul Drinkhall
Encyclopedia
Paul Drinkhall is a British table tennis
player, currently the highest-ranked British player in the World. He is the current English Champion, winning the competition in March 2011. He is coached by Liu Jia-Yi
, and is in Great Britain's Team Visa, an initiative to support young sports people to fulfil their sporting potential. He has held the position of English Number One since 2006.
Drinkhall enjoyed much success as a youngster, winning numerous national championships at his age level, and at levels above his own age. This success didn't go unnoticed, as he was shortlisted for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2005, and finished in second place after Theo Walcott
in 2006. He was again shortlisted for this award in 2007. He once again finished in 2nd place in 2007.
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games
in Delhi he won a silver medal in the men's team and a bronze medal in the mixed doubles.
National Champion in every age group so far eligible to compete in - Under 10, Under 11, Under 12, Under 14, Under 17, and Senior Men. Paul became the youngest player since Chester Barnes to win the English Senior Men's title in Sheffield in March 2007 when he overcame the much more experienced former champion Alex Perry from Devon in the 4 - 1 dual.
Paul Drinkhall is also noted for his rivalry with English No.3 Darius Knight. In January 2008 the BBC screened a programme focusing on the country's top medal prospects for the London 2012 Olympics; when posed the question of who the stronger of the pair was, Drinkhall stifled a chuckle before stating that he thought everyone knew the answer to that question.
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
player, currently the highest-ranked British player in the World. He is the current English Champion, winning the competition in March 2011. He is coached by Liu Jia-Yi
Liu Jia-Yi
Liu Jia-Yi is the current English Men's senior table tennis coach. He is originally from China, where he was both a national team player and coach before moving to Dubai to work for the National Association. After this he moved to work for the ETTA and coach in England...
, and is in Great Britain's Team Visa, an initiative to support young sports people to fulfil their sporting potential. He has held the position of English Number One since 2006.
Drinkhall enjoyed much success as a youngster, winning numerous national championships at his age level, and at levels above his own age. This success didn't go unnoticed, as he was shortlisted for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2005, and finished in second place after Theo Walcott
Theo Walcott
Theo James Walcott is an English footballer of Jamaican descent who plays for Arsenal and the England national team. Walcott is a product of the Southampton F.C. Academy. He is a striker who is usually deployed on the right wing as a wide forward to exploit his speed...
in 2006. He was again shortlisted for this award in 2007. He once again finished in 2nd place in 2007.
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Table tennis at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Table Tennis at the 2010 Commonwealth Games was held at the Yamuna Sports Complex from 4 to 14 October 2010.-Medals Table:Key:-Medallists:- Participating nations :-See also:*2010 Commonwealth Games*Table tennis at the Commonwealth Games...
in Delhi he won a silver medal in the men's team and a bronze medal in the mixed doubles.
National Champion in every age group so far eligible to compete in - Under 10, Under 11, Under 12, Under 14, Under 17, and Senior Men. Paul became the youngest player since Chester Barnes to win the English Senior Men's title in Sheffield in March 2007 when he overcame the much more experienced former champion Alex Perry from Devon in the 4 - 1 dual.
Paul Drinkhall is also noted for his rivalry with English No.3 Darius Knight. In January 2008 the BBC screened a programme focusing on the country's top medal prospects for the London 2012 Olympics; when posed the question of who the stronger of the pair was, Drinkhall stifled a chuckle before stating that he thought everyone knew the answer to that question.