BUDDING table tennis players from Harefield Academy took top honours in the Girls U19 event in the West London Regional final of the Jack Petchey TTE London Schools Team competition.  

The competition, held on 25th October at Brent’s Crest Academy, bought together 54 players making up six teams from schools from Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow.

The Girls U19 event is now a team of two competitors. This year in the final the winners came up against a team from Capital City Academy in Brent who they beat 5-0. The winning team was Zahna Hill, age 17 and Sarah Menghistab age 16.

Zahna said: “I was happy with my performance today but I had to focus. I love table tennis and I want to be the Junior and Senior number one in England.” 

Sarah is a winner at U16 level. She said: “I have moved up to Under 19 and pleased with my results. In the final I won 3-1 but I lost one game 14-16 and had to fight hard to get the win. I am playing full-time and want to get to the top.”

The Jack Petchey Schools’ Table Tennis Championships is a prestigious event which includes team and individual competitions all aimed at increasing participation and awareness of table tennis in schools in London. 

Winners of the regional competitions progress to the Jack Petchey London School’s Team finals being held on 14th January 2017 in the Sports Dock at the University of East London - UEL.

The project also includes the donation of indoor and outdoor table tennis tables which is also helping to increase interest in the sport. 

Sara Sutcliffe Chief Executive of Table Tennis England said: “Thousands of young people have become more active, learned new skills and made new friends thanks to the Jack Petchey Foundation’s support of table tennis in London and Essex.

“The table donation scheme and the team and individual competitions have taken the profile of the sport and the standard of play to new heights. They have created a lasting legacy and we look forward to thousands more youngsters benefitting from the programme in years to come.”

Sir Jack Petchey, CBE, 91-year-old founder of the Jack Petchey Foundation is passionate about giving young people freedom and opportunity.  

He said: “I’ve been a fan of table tennis since my own youth. 

"It’s a fantastic sport and I am delighted to see this partnership develop with more young people from London and Essex taking part.”

For further information about the scheme visit www.londonschoolstabletennis.co.uk