Table tennis star back to play after Rio tournament
A TABLE tennis star who honed his talents in Widnes will play his first tournament since last year’s Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Jack Hunter-Spivey will compete in the Para Class 3-5 singles at the English National Championships in Nottingham on Saturday, March 4.
The 21-year-old from Liverpool took up the sport at a youth club in Widnes when he was 10, later joining Halton Table Tennis Club.
He has been undertak- ing a fitness programme since returning from Rio – losing more than a stone in weight – and is feeling good ahead of the new ● season. He said: “I’ve not played a lot of table tennis as I’ve been working mainly on my fitness so the Nationals will be a good stepping stone for me. I’m working with a nutritionist so I have a strict meal plan and I’m also doing cardio sessions and I’m in the gym twice a day and training twice a week so it is a busy schedule but it is going well.
“Losing weight has helped massively – logically I’m not having to move as much weight around the table.”
Jack added: “The Nationals should be a really good experience – we played last year and the crowd was amazing.
“It will be my first tournament since Rio so it will be good to see what level I am at and I’m really looking forward to it.
“My goal for this year is to play well in the European Championships in September – that is what my programme is aimed at this year and hopefully I can take a medal.” ●