The buzz of top Table Tennis competition returns with the Team Championships of Wales
View our full weekend report here
After a long and Covid-19 enforced layoff, competition of the highest quality returned to the Main Hall at Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff where Table Tennis Wales hosted the Team Championships of Wales on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th October 2021.
There was a magnificent buzz in the Main Hall with players, coaches, volunteers and parents enjoying their first event together for over 18 months.
Covid measures were in place, with a strict sign-in procedure, one way system and hand sanitiser stations – but it was pretty much back to normal, especially on the tables!
And with 12 tables in play, it really was an all-action weekend of non-stop top quality table tennis competition for all ages.
“The Team Championships of Wales” is our first competition back after Covid and everyone is really happy and feeling energetic,” said Ryan Trigg, Table Tennis Wales National Competitions Manager.
Photos by: Joseph Robertson/Luke Sumner, University of South Wales
“Events like this showcase that table tennis is a sport for all ages, and as I’m saying this there is a great match going on between one of our top veterans who is over eighty and a very talented eighteen-year-old. You don’t get that in many other sports.
“The Team Championships Of Wales is a competiton that everyone wants to play in and when all competitions stopped because of Covid everyone was very disappointed – but now it’s back we have had twenty-four teams competing. We still have to be Covid compliant and put extra safety measures in place, but we’ve been able to welcome back players, families and coaches as well as professional photographers and a film crew and it’s all helped to make it a fantastic event.
“Having been unable to run competitions like this for such a long time it’s a significant tournament in so many ways and it means a lot to players here in Wales. Everyone wants to be back playing competitions and we have people from all ages, from veterans down to children as young as 10 years of age. Table tennis really is a sport for everyone.
“In addition to the competition and the wellbeing that playing sport brings, there is also a very strong social aspect. Covid had stopped that, but in a normal year players play in local leagues and an event like the Team Championships of Wales brings all those people together, so it always has a real good buzz about it. And this year more than ever.
Photos by: Joseph Robertson/Luke Sumner, University of South Wales
“The competition is the start of a busy period for Table Tennis Wales. In December we host the Cardiff Grand Prix, which is part of the British Grand Prix set up and will be good to have that back in Cardiff this year. Going into the New Year we have our second weekend of the Team Championships of Wales towards the end of January. In February we have the National Primary Schools Championship followed by the Welsh National Championships.”
Many congratulations all the players who took part over the weekend and for making the return to competition such an enjoyable and unforgettable weekend!