Meet the TTW Players: Jenson Denton-Smith

A bright young player whose attacking style matches his buzzing enthusiasm for the sport, Jenson Denton-Smith got into table tennis through sheer curiosity.

“During the pandemic, I watched Pongfinity on YouTube and became interested,” he told us. “I found two old table tennis bats and a net at home, put the net on a table and had fun playing with family.”

Jenson’s journey into the sport progressed when he attended sessions at the former Cardiff City Community Table Tennis Club during school holidays. From those free sessions, he went onto the club’s junior sessions and one-to-one coaching with the club’s head coach Nathan Thomas, before being spotted by Table Tennis Wales’ Dragon Squad.

Now, Jenson shines at national events and is involved in the national set-up, following in the footsteps of one of his favourite players, Anna Hursey.

“She has achieved a lot for Wales in her table tennis journey,” he said, “including becoming the first Welsh player to enter the Olympics!”

We spoke to Jenson about what it’s like representing Wales, and about the ups and downs he’s experienced already.

What does a typical day look like for you?

“Every morning, I exercise after I wake up. On some days after school, I have a one-to-one coaching session before having a light dinner then making my way to a group session.

“At every training session I tell myself that if I’m not sweating at the end of it, I haven’t worked hard enough!”

What has been your most memorable success so far?

“My first Welsh National Championships in March 2023 where I finished second in the U11s.

“That was special because it showed me that table tennis is for me.”

What about some of the challenges that have come up?

“When the Cardiff club had to close in March 2023, along with the coaches and other members of the club, I was really gutted and felt quite sad for a long time. It closed just as I had started to make good friendships with great players and was progressing well with my training.

“Thankfully, Nathan agreed to continue meeting me for one-to-ones throughout this difficult time. If it wasn’t for him, I may never have become a finalist at the Welsh National Championships in the same month the club closed, or continued to progress to become the table tennis player I am today.”

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

“If you want to reach the national level, make sure you enjoy what you’re doing, keep working hard and never give up.”

How do you handle the pressure at that level?

“I tell myself that I have earned my selection to represent Wales and then I try not to think about it because I don’t need any more pressure!

“When you’re in a match, you don’t want to be thinking about anything else other than the match itself. To keep focused, I use a breathing technique before each point and may use towel breaks after every six points.”

What are your goals as you continue your table tennis journey?

“My current goals are to be selected for and win the singles and team events at the next Senior Schools International.

“I also aspire to be one of the top ten men’s players in WTT!”