Medway prepares to welcome table tennis big hitters
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The cream of British table tennis players will soon be arriving in Medway. The Black Lion leisure centre is gearing up to hold the Medway Open Grand Prix. The national tournament, which takes place on 1 and 2 December, has been over-subscribed and will feature a capacity field of 180 players, including international players and some of the UK’s best talent. And everyone will be able to enjoy a piece of the action, as there will be free spectator admission to the tournament throughout the competition weekend. Cllr Howard Doe, Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: "This is a unique opportunity for the residents of Medway to watch some top-class table tennis players in action. |
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"Table tennis is already a thriving sport in Medway, where we can boast one of the country’s leading training facilities, the Howard Table Tennis Centre. We hope this tournament will inspire even more people to take up the sport locally.”
The Medway Open is the fifth of 10 events on the Butterfly Grand Prix Series, the English Table Tennis Association's primary event series.
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The competition is spread over two days and involves a total of 16 events catering for players of all ages and abilities from club level upwards. |
Matthew Porter, National Events Officer for the English Table Tennis Association (ETTA) said, "We are delighted to be coming to the Black Lion leisure centre in Medway
"We look forward to working closely with Medway in their bid and efforts in sports development; from grass roots right up to Olympic standard. We also look forward to using the facility after the planned upgrade."
Spectator experience
Spectators can either follow a specific match from table-side seats or they can choose to watch from the viewing gallery and enjoy a view of the whole arena at this free to watch sporting event.
Park and Ride services between the Chatham Dockside Outlet and Rochester’s Dickensian Christmas festivities will be detouring once an hour via the Black Lion leisure centre throughout the weekend of the Medway Open to transport spectators to and from the tournament.
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On day one the competitors are categorised in terms of their age and ability and play for a number of prizes in their respective bandings. |
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On the second day it’s the open singles, where with no bandings anyone could face anyone as names are drawn randomly out of the hat. Sunday also sees the under 21 and veterans’ events.
Players' entry numbers are allocated in terms of ability and ranking so spectators can see at a glance who the favourites in each match and overall are. Male competitors are ranked from 1 onwards, with number 1 going to the favourite. Women are ranked from 201 onwards. Programmes which include a guide to the tournament will be on sale for £1.
The Medway Open will be the last major event to be held at the Black Lion before it begins its £11m transformation into a regional centre of sporting excellence, Medway Park.
The Black Lion leisure centre will remain open throughout the refurbishment.
Table tennis out in the community
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To celebrate the Butterfly Grand Prix series coming to Medway and to encourage more people to watch the tournament and get involved in table tennis, Medway Council is taking the sport out into the community. This Saturday (24 November), shoppers at Dockside Outlet Centre at Chatham Maritime will be able to watch some of Medway’s finest young players in action. |
Junior England squad members Harry Lumb and siblings Kirsty, Ross and Katie Wilson will be showing off their talents in the foodcourt between 10am and 2pm. Shoppers will also be encouraged to have a knock-up themselves and take away information about the Medway Open tournament and local table tennis opportunities.
Have a go yourself
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There are also sports development activities planned on the eve of the tournament on Friday, 30 November, including school coaching sessions and a have a go drop in session. The general public is invited to have a go on the competition tables on under the watchful eye of expert local and national players and coaches. Simply drop in to the main hall of the Black Lion centre between 7pm and 9.30pm on Friday, 30 November. |
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Cllr Howard Doe encouraged everyone to get involved and support the tournament.
He said: “Medway has a thriving table tennis scene, one of the country’s leading training facilities in the Howard Table Tennis Centre, plus several young players with the potential to make it to the very top.
“The Medway Open provides a perfect opportunity to showcase the sport in Medway and I hope the tournament will inspire a fresh crop of players to take up table tennis.”