by Melvyn Morgan
TABLE tennis ace Damien Nicholls has ended his junior career in style by winning the gold medal in the UK School Games boys’ individual championships. The Quatford youngster’s best performance on record, scooping a national title, comes as he is already stamping his mark on the senior scene.
He will now be stepping up his quest for bigger honours at Grantham Sports College, where he moved to live this week, to continue with his A-level studies.
Damien, who will celebrate his 18th birthday next month, is guaranteed a minimum of 15 hours first class elite training at the college’s table tennis academy, alongside his studies, his England commitments and training at the National Academy in Sheffield.
The former Oldbury Wells School student who represented England Midlands beat England junior international Matthew Ware in five pulsating games to earn his UK School games title at the University of Bath. Earlier he saw off second seed Gavin Evans from Newark and then Scottish one Craig Howieson to remind the selectors that he is clearly a player to watch for the future.
“Damien had number 13 on his back, but it certainly wasn’t unlucky for him,” said his proud parents, Paul and Annette Nicholls.
“His triumph has been a long time in the making,” they added. “This is the third year that Damien has represented England at the UK School Games, winning the bronze medal in the team event last year.
“To finish by winning a national title like this is fantastic and is something he really deserved after all the years of hard work and commitment,” they said. “It was a very proud and special moment.”
Damien’s fine form in the senior ranks was evident in the recent Liverpool Grand Prix championships, when he reached the semi-finals of the men’s open competition before losing to a visiting German player.
He also reached the final of the under-21s event, losing a hard-fought battle with a former Lithuanian national player.
