Meet the Table Tennis Wales Players: Lily Walters

First picking up a bat when Rhondda TTC’s Norman Jenkins organised lunchtime sessions in her primary school, Lily Walters has described how she felt an “immediate connection” with the sport for her.

From the days of those full-of-fun sessions to being recruited for Rhondda TTC and subsequently making the Welsh Aspire squad at the age of 10, Lily has progressed brilliantly into the international set-up and is a proud representative of her country at youth level.

We spoke to Lily about her fledgling career and where she hopes to go in the future.

As a national athlete, what does a typical day of training look like for you?

“A typical day of training would include a 17:00 – 17:45 strength and conditioning session followed by a 18:00 – 20:30 Welsh national session.

“Last year I would also attend a morning 08:00 – 11:30 session before school, but have decided not to pursue this at the moment to focus on my GCSEs and schoolwork.”

What’s been the most challenging moments of your career so far?

“A challenging moment in my career was when I had the pressure of winning the U15 national title in my last year at cadet level, after finishing runner up in the previous three national championships.

“After receiving three silver medals, I trained hard and pushed for the title which, unfortunately, I did not achieve. It was a massive setback in my career as the national title would’ve boosted my confidence and helped with future sponsors.

“Having failed four times to be Welsh national champion, this defeat was very disappointing, but I will not give up and will continue to train and fight, ready for my time in juniors.”

And how do you handle that sort of pressure when stepping up to the table?

“When performing at high levels, there is a lot of pressure and I do get very nervous and it does affect my focus and mindset.

“Over the years of representing Wales, I have been able to manage that pressure and stay focussed, as I know that staying calm will only make me play to the best of my ability.

“The strategy I use is to remove myself from the venue and hall five or 10 minutes before my match, depending on the pressure of the match or how confident I am feeling on the day. I also play music when waiting for my opponent and approaching the table.”

The technique has clearly worked for the majority of her career up to this point.

Do you have a particular highlight of your career so far?

“I’d say my biggest achievement is being selected for the 2023 European Youth Championships in Gliwice, Poland; playing alongside my teammates and representing my country.”

As well as the support of her friends and family, Lily takes inspiration from her head of year at school, whose words have stuck with her.

“He has undergone the same pressure and experiences as me at a younger age through a different sport,” Lily told us. “He told me ‘no matter the struggle of keeping going and holding onto those goals, never forget the connection you felt when you first picked up that bat and ball.’”

And these are words that Lily lives by when in a table tennis environment.

What advice would you give to aspiring table tennis players who’d like to be in your shoes?

“The advice I would give to a young aspiring table tennis player is that it’s a mental game, and no matter how hard it gets or how high the pressure can be, never forget the love you had for the sport when you first picked up that bat and when you first hit that ball.”

What ambitions and goals for the future do you have in the sport?

“In the upcoming years I aim to continue to improve and have the honour of representing my country.

“I’d also like to attend my first WTT event!”

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