Meet the Table Tennis Wales Players: Jacob Davies

Since entering Penlan Table Tennis Club for a beginner session, Jacob Davies has excelled to become one of Wales’ most exciting prospects on the table.

With the famous words “you miss all the chances you don’t take” and the creative inspiration of Truls Moregardh pushing him on the table, his attacking style and preference to control rallies make him a thrilling watch and tough opponent for anyone.

And the past year has been prolific for Jacob across the Welsh circuit, picking up a host of medals across regional events; Summer Junior League champion, two titles and a runner-up medal at the Swansea Closed, and most recently the winner of his first U19 title at the North Gwent Open. That success has translated onto the international scene, recently, as well.

It’s certainly an exciting time for Jacob, who is only looking forward and up when it comes to his table tennis career. We spoke to the Welsh representative recently…

What do you look back on as your biggest achievement so far?

“My biggest achievement in the sport so far is getting my first international medal in the recent Senior School Championships in Jersey.”

Jacob won the U16 Boys Plate Event in Jersey as Wales as a whole showed great promise.

How do you handle the pressure of representing your country?

“When representing Wales, there’s always pressure to perform so I try to take myself out of the hall for five minutes and listen to some music.

“Then I might talk with my teammates to get myself ready. During the match, I try to take my time in between points to reset myself.”

What does a typical day look like for you, as a national athlete?

“A typical day of training for me would include 45 minutes of strength and conditioning and then two-and-a-half hours of training with the national squad.

“Throughout the week, I also train in Swansea University and Penlan TTC, as well as having one-to-one coaching sessions.”

What challenges have you faced in your career so far?

“I started playing quite late at the age of nearly 13, so I was constantly playing catch up with those around me and trying to reach the national squad level.

“However, after putting the hours in, it makes your goals feel all the more rewarding because you know you worked hard to achieve them.”

And where do you want to go next in your career? What further goals do you have?

“My goals are to continue representing Wales, and to hopefully reach the Commonwealth Games and other major international tournaments.”

What advice would you give to others looking to get where you are and emulate the success you’ve experienced so far?

“Work hard and always give 100%. Train with purpose and the results will follow. And lastly, enjoy the process!”