Ealing student Jacqui Lesh will go for gold at the Jack Petchey London Schools’ Individual Table Tennis Competition later this month, after winning the West London qualifying tournament.

More than 70 boys and girls from 13 schools competed in four age groups, with their eyes on a place in the finals on 25th April.

Jacqui came out on top in the under-16 girls’ category, making her way through group and knockout stages and ultimately winning the final 3-0 (11-5, 11-1, 11-6) against Lucy Ngo from Brent.

Jacqui, 13, said: “I was quite nervous because I didn’t know who would be there, but it was a good performance and it was fun.”

Jacqui will compete against qualifiers from four other London areas and Essex at the finals.

The Jack Petchey Schools Table Tennis Championships is a partnership between the Jack Petchey Foundation and Table Tennis England to get more young people playing the sport at school for fun and also to compete.

It comprises individual and team competitions which are open to boys and girls in full-time education in London and Essex.

The partnership also includes the donation of indoor and outdoor table tennis tables to schools and youth clubs in London and Essex.

Featured image credit: Stephen Pover