UNDERDOG TEACHER LOOKS TO TURN TABLES
BEWARE the modest school teacher. Sounds familiar, right?
Only days after Jeff Horn stunned the boxing world, David Powell’s mission this week at the Australian Table Tennis Open on the Gold Coast takes the underdog status to a whole new level.
Powell was handed the 16th and final seeding into the men’s main draw as part of Australia’s hosting rights.
It pits the 26-year-old, ranked No.281 in the world, against many of the sport’s very best. The 2016 Olympian knows he’s in for a stern test. “I work fulltime in Melbourne … unfortunately table tennis comes second. I’d be lucky to train three times a week,” he said.
“It all comes down to money as well. (The top players) are being paid $100,000-plus to play and we’re paying to play.”
The circumstances set the scene for a David v Goliath battle but Horn’s triumph on Sunday can provide inspiration.
“It shows you that the underdog can win,” Powell said. “I will do my best.”
Powell learned last night which qualifier he will be pitted against in the first round tonight. If he can jag an upset, he would likely then meet Belarusian star Vladimir Samsonov.
Powell plans to use the tournament as preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games – much like countrywoman Melissa Tapper, despite her missing out on an automatic seeding and being eliminated in the qualifying stage.