Londoner Aaron McKibbin Dominates at National Championships
Londoner Aaron McKibbin Bounces Back with Triple Title Win
Aaron McKibbin, a table tennis star from London, dominated the recent Michael Hawkesworth National Championships in Sheffield, emerging victorious in the Open Standing Singles, Class 8, and Open Standing Doubles events. Meanwhile, Jack Hunter-Spivey retained his Open Wheelchair Singles title.
“It’s been a tough month or so, to be honest, so I’m really happy that I played very well, and it is always nice to win three titles,” McKibbin admitted.
Despite a disappointing performance at the Paralympic Games in Paris, McKibbin showcased his resilience and talent by powering through the competition. He secured the Open Standing title with a 3-1 win over 20-year-old class 10 Pathway player Max Flint, who fought back from 2-0 down before McKibbin used his experience to edge the fourth set 12-10.
McKibbin’s triumph underscores the growing depth of talent within the British Para table tennis program. As he stated:
“There are kids coming up through the Pathway and outside the Pathway – I’ve seen some new people here this weekend I’ve never seen before. I think that is what we need if we want to compete with the best nations, we need many players who are also pushing us.”
Compatriot Jack Hunter-Spivey, who missed out on qualification for Paris, also bounced back to retain his Open Wheelchair Singles title, defeating fellow class 5 athlete Simon Heaps 3-0 in the final.
Other standout performers included 19-year-old Jacob Wicks, who secured his first National title in class 6, and Megan Shackleton, who clinched the women’s class 3-5 singles title. Bly Twomey and Fliss Pickard also celebrated their maiden national championship triumphs in class 7 and the women’s open standing class, respectively.
The depth of talent on display at the Michael Hawkesworth National Championships underscores the strength of table tennis in the United Kingdom. As the sport’s rising stars continue to push the boundaries, the future looks bright for British table tennis table, table tennis bats, and table tennis clubs across the country.
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