Promising junior, successful veteran

Ryan Jenkins, the loyal Welshman (Photo: courtesy of Table Tennis Association of Wales) by Ian Marshall, Editor Once a promising junior; then a successful senior; competing on home soil, Welshman Ryan Jenkins, alongside Denmark’s Pia Toelhoj emerged the most successful players at the 2019 ITTF Veteran World Tour tournament staged at the Cardiff Metropolitan University, on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December. Both concluded play in the principality’s capital city as the “Champion of Champions”. In a group organised event, Ryan Jenkins, who has represented Wales at every possible level from cadet to veteran and plays a major role in promoting the national association’s fortunes alongside younger brother, Stephen, emerged the men’s singles 40 years winner. He finished ahead of England’s Daryn Dobson-Bailey and India’s

Award for Shunsuke Togami

Representing the finest qualities of sport (Photo: Rémy Gros) by Ian Marshall, Editor Japan’s Shunsuke Togami received the Swaythling Club award on Sunday 1st December at the NSDF World Junior Championships in Korat, Thailand. The citation read “for setting a good example and upholding the best interests of sport”. On the fourth day of play at the semi-final stage of the boys’ team event against China, he had lost by the minimal two point margin in the decisive fifth game of the crucial fifth match against Xiang Peng (13-11, 13-11, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9). On the concluding day of action again he suffered against Xiang Peng; he was beaten at the semi-final stage of the junior boys’ singles event (14-12, 12-10, 13-11, 10-12, 11-9). In both instances