National champ Louis a great Hope for England
SACRED Heart pupil Louis Cheung-Turner has been selected to take part in the England Hopes Table Tennis training camp next week.
His latest call up comes on the back of an amazing year, which saw Louis (7A) receive a Highly Commended award at this year’s Sefton Sports Awards for Junior Personality of the Year in recognition of his achievements to date.
That award follows on from last year, when Louis was awarded a POOBI ‘Rising Stars’ bursary, when in Year 6 at Great Crosby - an award given in recognition of his talents as a rising star in the junior table tennis world.
Louis started playing table tennis at his after-school club when he was just 8-years-old and competed in his first full table tennis season in 2017/18, going on to become National Champion for U10 Boys in June last year.
It was a proud moment for Louis, who was thrilled at winning Gold. He said: “It was a lot of pressure on me because everyone was expecting me to win it because I was No 1.
“The last point, when I won, felt amazing. I was thrilled to have the trophy. When I was standing on the podium, that felt amazing too.”
He was also England No.1 for U10 Boys from March 2018 and then U11 Boys up until March 2019.
Louis competed in his first International Open Table Tennis Tournament in February last year in Budapest, aged 9, and again in the same tournament last February, where he reached the last 16 from 56 players, representing 24 countries.
In August 2018, Louis was selected for the England Hopes Squad and in April this year was chosen to represent England at the British Primary Schools’ Home International Championships in Lisburn,
Northern Ireland, where he was in the Gold winning England team.
Most recently, in April, Louis competed in the English Schools’ Individual Championships in Wolverhampton, reaching the quarter-finals.
Louis’ father, Ken, who has worked for Royal Mail Mossley Hill Sorting Office in Liverpool for 20 years, can play table tennis, but admits he ‘can’t compete’ with Louis now!
Speaking about her son’s success, proud mum Mel said: “The POOBI grant has helped enormously towards covering expenses for training camps, tournament costs, travel and accommodation, which comes with competing in many tournaments nationwide and internationally.
“Louis is also sponsored by the table tennis equipment and clothing supplier, Thornton’s Table Tennis and Stiga, a leading brand name in the sport, which helps considerably towards the cost of table tennis equipment and clothing which can be expensive.”
“It is important for Louis’ development he continues to train at the highest level with the England/GB coaches, his coaches at his club and to continue representing his country in an international arena where possible.
“International experience at a young age is invaluable for athletes in any sport.”
But the final word must go to
Louis who, when asked what his ambitions are, was in no doubt. He added: “My ultimate dream and ambition would be to represent Great Britain at the Olympics one day.”