ROYAL Russell table tennis hot shot James Smith took top honours in the Boys U16 category of the Jack Petchey Foundation London Schools Individual Finals last Friday.
The South London regional final was held at Sutton's Wilson School, and the competition bought together 52 players from 14 different schools from Bromley, Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Richmond upon Thames and Sutton.
The Croydon student is already a champion, having won the U12 category in last year's Individuals Finals. Still only 12, James has an outstanding talent which showed against older opponents in the U16 category.
James has been playing table tennis for school and club teams since he was eight.
He said: "Table tennis is a great sport and I have learnt so much from my coach.
"I play a bit of football but prefer table tennis because it's indoors. This is a well organised tournament with lots of good players from other schools. I can't wait for the final."
The Jack Petchey London Schools' Table Tennis Championships are designed to get more young people interested in playing the sport at school for fun and also to compete.
"It involves individual and team competitions open to boys and girls in full-time education.
All winners progress to the Jack Petchey London School's Singles finals on Saturday, June 2014 at the University of East London - UEL. The project also includes the donation of indoor and outdoor tennis tables.
Sara Sutcliffe, Chief Executive of ETTA, said: "This competition has seen a step change for table tennis in London Schools and has raised the standard of play in our London Region.
"We are very happy with progress and targeting more schools is a major ETTA strategy for the future."
