DRINKHALL leads way again at English National Championships

01/03/2010 – The international and well traveled partnership of Paul Drinkhall and Joanna Parker are the top seeds at the National Championships at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield on 5 6 7 March. Last year was clearly Drinkh https://www.ettu.org

Drinkhall01/03/2010 – The international and well traveled partnership of Paul Drinkhall and Joanna Parker are the top seeds at the National Championships at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield on 5 6 7 March.

Last year was clearly Drinkhall’s year. The 20 year old picked up a hat trick of titles winning the men’s singles the men’s doubles with Darius Knight and the mixed doubles with Joanna Parker.

Since then Drinkhall has moved up in the world from 124 last year to 116. No huge leap there but life in the big time gets tougher as you near the magical 100 mark. As he did last year in removing his biggest threat Andrew Baggaley Drinkhall will again have something major to aim for.

When he steps into the Ponds Forge ring again next month his aim will be clear to retain his singles title and if he does that it will complete a hat trick of men’s singles titles after having won previously in 2007 and 2009.

But lets not forget the talented Andrew Baggaley who won the title in 2008 and also in 2002 he’ll be eyeing up a hat trick as well. So stand by for another cracking head o head.

Joanna Parker is the current women’s title holder. Last year in a disappointing final she beat Karina Le Fevre but missing then was former No.1 Kelly Sibley who won the title in 2008 and missed last year through injury but is now back to form.

If the seedings work out it should be an interesting clash of styles Parker’s subtle defensive work against the all out attack of Sibley. But of course there could always be a threat from other areas. Improving players like Hannah Hicks Emma Vickers and last years finalist Karina Le Fevre could all upset the top seeds along the way.

(by Jim BECKLEY Courtesy of ETTA)

Top ten singles seedings:

Men:

Paul Drinkhall Darius Knight Daniel Reed Chris Doran Andrew Baggaley Liam Pitchford Gavin Evans Tim Yarnall Damien Nicholls Mathew Ware.

Women:

Joanna Parker Kelly Sibley Hannah Hicks Karina Le Fevre Emma Vickers Lindsey Reynolds Sanja Clements Karen Shepherd Mary Fuller.

Photo: Paul DRINKHALL (Photo Roscher)

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The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is the governing body of the sport of table tennis in Europe, and is the only authority recognized for this purpose by the International Table Tennis Federation. The ETTU deals with all matters relating to table tennis at a European level, including the development and promotion of the sport in the territories controlled by its 58 member associations, and the organization of continental table tennis competitions, including the European Championships.

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