Three rising table tennis stars look to London 2012

Paul Drinkhall    18 years old

Paul Drinkhall is currently the highest-ranked British player in table tennis and is the current English Champion. He has studied the sport in China since he won the chance, at age 11, to study at the world-renowned Shandong Table Tennis Centre."In China",he says, "table tennis is more than a sport".Drinkhall has the ambition of becoming the best table tennis player in the world,a dream he sees as being achieved with a gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012.In order to achieve this dream,Drinkhall says, "If you want to be the best, you have to work and practice with the best, and they happen to be in China."

Paul Drinkhall is noted for his rivalry with English No.2 Darius Knight.Both are coached by Chinese coach Li Jiayi.

Darius Knight   18 years old

Darius Knight is the UK's number two tennis table star and his popularity has helped to make table tennis an attractive sport in the UK.Knight was born and raised in London's inner city, and many of his childhood friends got involved in crime.Knight escaped this life by practicing table tennis, a sport which he considers both his saviour and his baby. "I am fascinated by the game. It requires speed, reflexes,technique and strategy.For me, it's like one fast and furious chess game."

Knight is very thankful for the opportunities he's had. "Table tennis has already let me see the world,and I'm only 18",he says.He is actively involved in helping inner-city kids get into the sport, and in the future, he'd like to become a top-class table tennis coach and give back to the London community.

Kelly Sibley    20 years old

Kelly Sibley started playing table tennis when she was 8 years old,encouraged by her mother, also a table tennis player.She has won many competitions at the junior level and has represented England at the senior level at the Commonwealth Games,the European Championships and the World Championships.

She has Olympic dreams and is looking towards 2012."It would be such a buzz to be part of the British team in London. "She would like to win an Olympic gold, but she admits,"If I'm realistic,then I would like to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games."

About her sport, she says that "table tennis can be difficult and requires fast reactions and movements. "She admits that it's far easier for young people in the UK to get involved in a more popular sport like football,but she is confident that table tennis will become increasingly popular."Most schools now have table tennis tables,and if you enjoy it, then you can go further with it."

Paul Drinkhall    18 岁

Paul Drinkhall 是目前英国排名最高的运动员，也是全英乒乓球冠军。他曾在11岁时获得在中国山东乒乓球中心集训的机会。Drinkhall自己也承认：“在中国，乒乓球不仅仅是一项运动。”作为运动员，他的人生目标是成为世界乒坛最出色的选手，并希望自己能在2012年伦敦奥运夺冠。不过，Drinkhall 对中国队的实力相当清楚，他表示“如果想成为世界冠军，就必须努力训练，和最有实力的对手切磋，所有的乒乓高手都集中在中国。”

在英国国内，Drinkhall也有对手，那就是英国排名第二的Darius Knight。他们两人的教练都是来自中国的刘加诒。

Darius Knight   18 岁

Darius Knight是英国乒乓球项目的男二号。他的成功推动了英国的乒乓球热。 Knight从小生长在伦敦内城，当同龄的朋友们不务正业时，他却专心于打球而远离犯罪。乒乓球对于他，就象救世主，也是珍宝。“我对乒乓球非常着迷。这是一项需要速度、反应，技术和策略的运动。对于我，乒乓球就象一种疯狂的快棋。”

Knight非常珍惜来之不易的机会。“乒乓球让我面向世界，我只有18岁，未来 的路还很长。” 训练之余，Knight积极地投身全民体育，回报社会。他教授社区的孩子们学习打乒乓球，也许有一天，他会实现他的梦想-成为世界顶尖的乒乓球教练。

Kelly Sibley    20 岁

Kelly Sibley 8岁时在母亲的鼓励和影响下，开始接触乒乓球。在不断赢得少年组的比赛，她又代表英国参加英联邦运动会，欧洲杯和世界杯的成人组比赛。

每个运动员都有自己的奥运梦想，Kelly对2012奥运会也充满期待。“如果能成为英国队的一员，参加伦敦奥运，那绝对非常令人激动。”她最大的理想是获得金牌，但她也承认：“现实地说，在英联邦运动会上获胜相对容易一些。”

Kelly坦言“乒乓球需要快速的反应和移位，是一种相对入门比较难的运动。”英国的年轻人可能感觉踢足球更容易一些，但她相信乒乓球会越来越流行。“英国有许多学校都配备了乒乓球台，只要你有兴趣，乒乓球是一项可以伴随你一生的运动。”