11-YEAR-OLD ANNA OFF TO A WINNING START IN OZ
MOST 11-year-olds are spending their school Easter holidays tucking into chocolate, seeing friends and maybe even catching up on a bit of homework.
But most 11-year-olds are not Anna Hursey – who yesterday took a bow at the Commonwealth Games as Wales’ youngest-ever competitor.
The Cardiff schoolgirl made a winning start in the table tennis at the 2018 Gold Coast Games in Queensland, Australia.
Along with her partner, Charlotte Carey, the youngster made a stunning start with a 3-2 victory over India in the doubles competition.
Despite her achievements Wales went on to lose the best-of-five match 3-1 to India.
After the clash Anna, from Lakeside in Cyncoed, was ecstatic to have made such an impressive start to her Commonwealth Games.
She said: “I was really excited and a bit nervous but because I was doubling up with Charlotte I felt good about the game. It wasn’t that scary once I started and I really enjoyed the game.”
Anna took up table tennis aged just five – and her dream is to get on the podium at the Olympic Games.
She said: “My aim is to win any medal. But my dream is to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games.”
Describing her training routine, the young athlete added: “I go to school as normal, then I come home and have 10 or 20 minutes and then I go to table tennis for three hours, then come home and rest.
“It’s hard work but when I have a break I enjoy it.
“I’ve been playing for six years. My dad used to play and I did swimming and gymnastics as well but I didn’t like them much.
“I like making new friends, travelling and working hard. My friends are really proud of me and excited.”
Speaking ahead of the event, Anna’s father, Larry, 54, said the hard work in her career starts now.
He said: “We’ve known this would be likely for some time now. Her rankings in the world are doing well.
“We’re very pleased she enjoys playing and gets a reward for all this hard work.
“We’re focused on the athletic side of it, making sure we’re focusing on helping her as much as we can to enjoy and improve and do the best that she can.”
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Anna’s coach, Steve Jenkins, said he was pleased with how his athletes had performed.
He said: “They’ve never played together before and I went on instinct. Charlotte is our numberone player and I thought she could help Anna through it.
“They gelled well. [Anna] plays better when she’s relaxed and it’s my job to keep her happy.”
Anna’s playing partner, Charlotte, also speaking to the Daily Mail, said: “I just felt really proud.
“Her eyes wandered a couple of times but in all she had really good focus. We wanted her to have confidence and to know she is good enough.
“Sometimes we have to be careful what we’re talking about – we forget she’s 11 but I think it’s great the attention she’s bringing to the sport.”