Wales Impress at Senior Schools International Championships in Cardiff

The Senior Schools Championships took place in Cardiff over the weekend of 27–28 June, with Wales producing an outstanding display of talent, determination and team spirit. Across two days of high-quality competition, Welsh players delivered excellent performances in both the team and individual events, collecting titles, team gold and a host of medal-winning finishes.

While the final standings tell the story of a successful weekend, they don’t fully reflect just how competitive the Welsh teams were. Throughout the event, matches were decided by the narrowest of margins, with several teams only a point or two away from significantly higher finishes.

The standout performance came from the Under 18 Boys, who were crowned Senior Schools Team Champions, securing the gold medal after an excellent campaign. The squad showed composure and quality throughout the competition to deservedly stand on the top step of the podium.

Elsewhere, there were plenty of performances that deserved more than their final placings suggest. The Under 14 Girls A Team came agonisingly close to reaching the semi-finals, narrowly losing to Scotland B in a decisive match during the group stage. Victory would have seen the team competing for a medal, underlining just how fine the margins were throughout the tournament.

Similarly, the Under 18 Boys B Team endured two heartbreaking 3–2 defeats. Turning either of those matches into victories would have resulted in a significantly higher finishing position, demonstrating the competitive nature of the event and the strength in depth within the Welsh squad.

The remaining team results reflected another solid showing from Wales. The Under 14 Boys A Team finished an impressive 4th, with the B Team placing 7th. The Under 14 Girls B Team secured 6th place, while the C Team finished 9th. The Under 16 Boys placed 8th, and the Under 18 Girls narrowly missed out on the medals with a commendable 4th-place finish.

The individual competitions provided even more reason to celebrate, with Welsh players collecting medals across the Main Draw and Consolation events.

The highlight came in the Under 16 Girls, where Amelie David produced a superb performance to become Senior Schools Under 16 Girls Champion, winning the Main Draw title in style beating the number 1 and 2 seeds from England to secure the victory.

In the Under 18 Boys Main Draw, Toby Harwood claimed a well-earned bronze medal, while Oliver Harvey also secured bronze in the Under 14 Boys Main Draw.

There was further success in the Consolation events. Lily Walters won silver in the Under 18 Girls Consolation, while Jack Morgan earned bronze in the Under 18 Boys Consolation. In the Under 16 Girls Consolation, Evie Turner Samuels claimed silver, with Jessie Daniel taking bronze. Toby Young completed Wales’ medal haul by securing bronze in the Under 14 Boys Consolation.

The weekend showcased the continued strength and development of Table Tennis in Wales. Across every age group, players demonstrated resilience, excellent teamwork and a willingness to battle for every point.

Congratulations go to every player, coach, team manager, official and supporter who contributed to a memorable championships. The commitment shown throughout the weekend reflects the exciting future of Welsh table tennis, and the performances in Cardiff provide plenty of optimism as these young athletes continue their development.