Former England Youth Player Nominated for RAF Sportswoman of the Year
Former England youth international Darcie Proud has been shortlisted as the RAF Sportswoman of the Year after an impressive string of table tennis achievements. Darcie, who represented England as a teenager, including at the 2018 European Youth Championships, now holds the rank of Air Specialist 1 at the RAF Digby 591 unit, where she has been serving for over two years.
Despite her military duties, Darcie remains an active and accomplished table tennis player. She made history by becoming the first-ever female winner of the prestigious RAF Festival. Furthermore, she clinched both the women’s singles and mixed doubles titles at the RAF Championships and the Inter-Service Championships.
In addition to her competitive successes, Darcie has taken on a leadership role within the sport, becoming the head coach of the RAF table tennis team. She has earned her Level 1 coaching qualification, enabling her to guide and develop her fellow players.
“The unit fully supports my sporting achievements and any training that I do,” Darcie remarked.
Darcie’s dedication extends beyond her own performance. She recently organized a women’s-only table tennis camp, which was open to the RAF, Navy, and Army, encouraging more female service members to get involved in the sport.
Darcie’s Unit Warrant Officer (UWO) at the 591 unit has been instrumental in enabling her to balance her work and sporting commitments, providing the necessary flexibility and mentoring support.
The RAF table tennis team and committee have been Darcie’s biggest advocates, pushing her to pursue opportunities and continuously improve her abilities. As Darcie said, “The team and committee put so much time and effort into getting support and opportunities for all the team so that we can continue doing what we love whilst enjoying it.”
The RAF team competes at a high level, having entered the Senior British Clubs League. They are now actively seeking more table tennis enthusiasts, both within the service and in the civilian world, to join their ranks and experience the abundant support and experiences the RAF has to offer.
Darcie’s outstanding achievements have earned her a nomination for the prestigious RAF Sportswoman of the Year award, which will be presented on Friday. She is up against competitors from other disciplines, including Brazilian jiu-jitsu and waterskiing/wakeboarding.
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