Stockport table tennis junior Daniel Clarke secured an U15s win at the Junior Open in Blackpool on 28th October, the fourteen year-old’s first tournament win of 2012-13 season. 

After topping his qualifying group the number 1 seed progressed swiftly through the knockout rounds, defeating Ryan Lo, Sam Walsh and Keir North before meeting friend and rival for the title, number 2 seed Kin Fung Chan in the final. 

The first game went the way of Daniel before Kin got to grips with Daniel’s close-to-the-table attacking play to take the second. The match then swung back to Daniel during the third game which could have gone either way as both players gave their all through a host of long rallies. The key moment in the final came during the hotly-contended third when Kin having pushed Daniel back from the table smashed wide handing the initiative back to Daniel who then took the decisive game. With all-important momentum on his side Daniel was then able to secure the match and the title in the fourth.

Daniel serving at match point against Kin Fung Chan in the final
of the Blackpool Junior Open 

Kin and Daniel will compete together as doubles partners in the upcoming English National Junior Finals and after the match Daniel was asked what it’s like to have to play your doubles partner in a final: “We know each other’s game and either of us can win. Kin played very well, it’s so tough to play against him. I’m glad we’re on the same team at the Nationals.”

Daniel started playing table tennis at his local primary school in Bramhall and was a founding member of Stockport Table Tennis Academy. It’s head coach David Hulme from table tennis equipment supplier Global Table Tennis has coached and overseen the development of the young player’s game since he was eight years old: “Daniel has made a strong start to his season. He is in great shape and great form and right now is playing the best table tennis of his career.”

Daniel is supported by the table tennis brand DONIC, which has helped Daniel since 2010 with the large amounts of kit and equipment needed. “Table tennis isn’t an especially expensive sport,” added David Hulme, who secured Daniel’s sponsorship with DONIC, “but the numerous bats, specialist bat-rubbers, clothing, trainers and all of the related kit needed when you’re playing at this level can mount up. It makes a big difference when the top companies help out with the costs."

Daniel’s next competitive table tennis is in the National Junior League where he heads a Warrington team that won the Halton National Junior League in 2012. Following a county match for Cheshire in mid-November Daniel will compete against the top junior table tennis players in the country at the English Junior National Finals at the end of the month.