Meet the TTW Players: Jessie Daniel

An exciting, fast-paced player that knows how to entertain, Jessie Daniel is thriving in the Welsh squad, where she can learn off those she admires.

With Anna Hursey her favourite player, Jessie has also named the likes of Toby Harwood and Lowri Hurd as role models for the examples they set and the inspirations they are around the sport in Wales; her passion for table tennis and representing her country is evident.

It’s a viewpoint formed gradually since she first came into the sport and started progressing up the ranks, courtesy of the support of Norman Jenkins, who first met Jessie in a primary school club.

“I never had any plan of playing for Wales but now I couldn’t imagine my life where I didn’t,” Jessie told us.

We talked to her about her young career to date and where she’d like to go in the sport…

What successes have you had so far in your career?

“So far, my biggest successes are being selected to play for Wales in various tournaments, including The Safir open and International Senior Schools, and being invited into the Welsh national squad.”

What’s been your most memorable victory or biggest achievement?

“My most memorable moment was coming third in the Nationals in the U21s age category, because I was only thirteen and had to compete against players who were a lot older than me and more experienced.”

How do you handle the pressure of representing Wales?

“I handle the pressure of representing my country by reminding myself that I have worked and earned my place to be at this level, and my family, teammates and coaches are always supporting and encouraging me.

“To stay focused in high-stakes matches I go back to basics and start every point with a fresh perspective and mindset.”

What advice would you give to aspiring table tennis players who dream of reaching the National level?

“You have to keep going even when it gets hard because even though you may not make the team or get selected the first time, it doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough.

“Whenever I haven’t been selected for something, I came to training with the drive to prove that I am committed and have what it takes.”

Have you experienced any challenging moments in your career yet?

“A challenging moment in my career was when most of the players my age advanced to the higher squad and I stayed in the lower squad. At the time I felt really disheartened and it felt like all my hard work was for nothing, but after I thought about it, I decided to make the best of the situation and use it as a learning experience.

“I then trained and competed better than I ever had and eventually advanced to the higher squad. Thinking back, it was probably a good thing I wasn’t moved up when everyone else did because it taught me resilience, even when I thought it was impossible.”

What are your goals and aspirations for your table tennis career in the coming years?

“My goals and aspirations for the future are to keep improving my shots and my footwork, but most of all to improve my physical fitness so that I can have better stamina and strength at the table.

“Competition-wise I want to keep representing Wales at an international level and to keep going to smaller competitions in England to improve my match play.”

With a motto of ‘quitters never win and winners never quit’, we know there’s more to come from the talented Jessie.