Table tennis Rising star Louis makes great start to the year
AT the age of 15 Louis Price is ranked as the UK’s second best junior, even though he’s still in the first of his three years in that category.
His senior ranking has gone up to 42 in the men’s category and following his results over the last few months, he should get very close to being in the top 20, which is a real achievement for a first-year junior.
The St Bede’s scholar, who plays in the National League in France for Caen, started the season with ten wins out of ten in the Junior British League. His team, TableTennisDaily, sit top of the division.
In December, Louis played in the Cardiff Open and enjoyed a stunning weekend, getting into the semi-finals of the men’s event, where he lost to the eventual winner Jaiji Wu Zhang, who plays in the professional league in France.
In the Under-21s, Louis fought his way to the final, where he narrowly lost against the men’s 15th ranked player.
At the Dieppe Open in France, Louis came through several rounds to reach the quarter finals of the Senior Open before losing to Abdul-Kader Salifou – a French international who was ranked at 83 in the world last year.
Earlier this month, Louis attempted to qualify for this year’s National Championships, where 90 players battle it out for ten places at next month’s showcase event.
The top 22 players in the men’s ranking automatically qualify with ten qualifying from the event. Louis finished in third position, sealing a brilliant weekend and his ticket to the Senior Nationals.
Louis said: “I’m really pleased with my level and can definitely improve on a number of aspects to my game – my aim is to continue climbing the rankings. I also want to thank Smartia and The Build Bristol Group for the support they have given me.”
Dan Ives, Louis’ Bristol-based coach, said: “It’s been a fantastic start to the season for Louis, his play has gone up a few levels and he’s putting in lots of table time as well as additional fitness sessions. It’s all looking good for the second half of the season with the Nationals both at senior and junior levels as well as the European Championships later in the summer.”