Paul Drinkhall

Cleveland’s Paul Drinkhall won the silver medal in the World Junior Table Tennis Championships in Madrid on Saturday after he was beaten in the final of the Boys’ Singles by Chen Chien-An of Chinese Taipei by 4 games to 1.

This silver medal added to the bronze won by Drinkhall in the team event earlier in the week when he led the England team to the semi final.

The day started well for Drinkhall, seeded second, when he won his semi final match against the No 3 seed Lee Sang Su of Korea by 4 games to 2.  Lee started well and looked in control when he won the first 2 games at 11-8 and 12-10 but Drinkhall levelled the match winning 2 more close games, both at 12-10, and then took the last 2 by 11-8.

Although being beaten by 4 games to 1 in the final, Drinkhall had real chances.  Chen, ranked 13th in the world, won the first game at 11-8 but Drinkhall took command in the second, winning by 11-3.  The vital game was the third in which the Cleveland player led by 10-8 with his service to come before Chen saved the game points with first an edge ball then with a net to level at deuce.  Drinkhall had a third game point before the Taipei player won at 14-12 to take a 2-1 lead.  Chen gained confidence from that point and took the fourth game at 11-8 and the fifth at 11-5.

After the match Drinkhall said, “I definitely felt the stronger player.  The Asian players are very good with their service and the receive of service and that is what I have to work on to beat players like Chen in the future.  I came here thinking I was one of the best junior players in the world and know now that it is true.”

Taking the silver medal in the World Junior Championships is the best that any English player has ever achieved.  At 18, it was Drinkhall’s last match as a junior player as he becomes a senior in international table tennis terms from 1 January.  

A problem for the Cleveland player with his senior career could be the decision from UK Sport to put table tennis as a sport in limbo for the time being so far as performance funding for the period up to the Olympic Games.  UK Sport, who are responsible for this funding will make a decision on 29 January with regard to the table tennis funding through to 2013.  Hopefully they will take account of Drinkhall’s fine performance in Madrid and give him the support needed to produce his best in the 2012 Olympics as well as for other major table tennis events around the world before then.

Tees Sport congratulate Paul Drinkhall on winning 3 Gold Medals at the European Youth Championships in Terni, Italy on Sunday. Paul was unbeaten throughout the 10 days of the Championships. In addition to winning the Junior Boys Singles, Paul won the Junior Boys doubles with Darius Knight and also the Mixed Doubles with Yekaterina Kolodyazhnaya of Russia. Paul was using the Timo Boll Spirit Blade combined with Tenergy 05 2.1 Black on the forehand and Bryce Speed 2.1 Red on the Backhand.

National Senior Champion 2007. England No1. Great Britain number 2. Won Gold & Silver in Australia Youth Olympic Festival 2007. 2006/07 ITTF World Junior Circuit Funchal Open Winner. ITTF World Junior Circuit Canadian Junior Open Winner 2007. ITTF World Junior Circuit Spanisn Youth Open Winner 2007. No less than 26 National titles in all age groups.

Name: Paul Drinkhall
DOB: 16/01/90.
Hometown: Loftus.
TT Involvement (YRS): 10 Years.
Club: TTV Gonnern.
Coach: Liu JiaYi.
Country Represented: England.
Style of Play: Attacking.
Training Schedule: 30 Hours per week.
World Ranking: No 4 Junior.
European Ranking: No 1 Junior .
National Ranking: No 1 Junior & Senior.

Titles Held:

• Youngest National Champion since 1963 (Chester Barnes)
• National senior Champion 2007.

• Great britain number 2. 
• Won Gold & Silver in Australia Youth Olympic Festival 2007. 
• 2006/07 ITTF World Junior Circuit Funchal Open Winner. 
• ITTF World Junior Circuit Canadian Junior Open Winner 2007. 
• ITTF World Junior Circuit Spanisn Youth Open Winner 2007. 
• No less than 26 National titles in all age groups.
• European Youth Junior Singles Champion 2008
• European Youth Junior Boys Doubles Champion 2008
• European Youth Junior Mixed Doubles Champion 2008

Best Win: Crisan (Romania)
Equipment: Rubber f/h: Tenergy 05
                   Rubber b/h:Bryce Speed
                   Blade: Boll Spirit
Shoes: ENERGYFORCE III

Favourite Music: R & B, Indie
Favourite Film: Rocky
Favourite Food: Steak

Comments about Butterfly: Good Quality
Comments about table Tennis : Fun, exciting and challenging. 

Paul Drinkhall recommends and uses the following products: