Triumphant Performance by England at the Senior Schools International in the Isle of Man
England dominated the table tennis competition at the recent Senior Schools International held on the Isle of Man, securing an impressive seven gold medals out of the 12 on offer. The England contingent, led by Head of Delegation Chris Parker and a team of Non-Playing Captains, including Kate Hughes, Helen Lower, Cherith Graham, Dave Pilkington, Mick Moir, and Steve Lyons, as well as umpires Harry Jutle and Tom Purcell, showcased their remarkable talent and depth across various age categories.
Under-14 Events
In the Under-14 girls’ event, the England A team of Brooke Morris and Gianna Pang remained unbeaten throughout the group stage, while the England B team of Alyssa Nguyen and Soraya Rahmani-Walentynska also impressed with a series of dominant wins. The final saw a thrilling all-England clash, with Rahmani-Walentynska leading the B team to the gold medal with a 3-2 victory over Pang.
The Under-14 boys’ competition was another triumph for England, with the A team of Kai Lun Chow and Pablo Ramirez Rioja clinching the gold medal after a 3-0 win over Ireland in the final. The England B team of Angad Saggu and Ibrahim Hussain narrowly missed out on a podium finish, losing 3-1 to Scotland A in the bronze medal match.
Under-16 Events
England’s dominance continued in the Under-16 categories, with both the boys’ and girls’ teams showcasing their superiority. The England B girls’ team of Gene Lam and Luna Archard emerged victorious in the final, defeating the A team of Victoria Pang and Jonabel Taguibao. In the boys’ event, the England A team of Zac Greenhough and Francesco Bonato clinched the gold medal after a closely contested final against the B team.
Under-18 Events
The Under-18 age groups proved to be more challenging for the English teams, with the girls’ A team of Zarita Lo and Bethany Ellis settling for silver after suffering a 3-0 defeat against Ireland in the final. The boys’ A team of Adam Dennison and Nathaniel Saunders had to settle for silver as well, losing 3-1 to Scotland A in the title match.
Individual Events
The individual events saw further success for England, with Soraya Rahmani-Walentynska claiming the girls’ singles title and Daniel Chang emerging victorious in the boys’ singles. The English contingent also secured a clean sweep of the medals in both the boys’ and girls’ singles competitions.
Overall, the impressive performance by the England table tennis teams at the Senior Schools International in the Isle of Man underscores the depth and talent within the sport in the country. The dedication and hard work of the players, coaches, and support staff have clearly paid dividends, and this success will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of table tennis enthusiasts.
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