Table tennis star Allen targeting pinnacle of sport

Craig Allen has gone from a holiday table tennis player to targeting the very pinnacle of his sport. Bromsgrove star Allen first played the sport in Tenerife with his mum, who helped to continue developing his passion for the game when they returned home. Ad Table tennis became another sport that he loved playing, though he knew that eventually he would have to make a choice about which he wanted to pursue.

Table TennisBritish table tennis stars encounter turbulent day at European Championships18/08/2022 AT 14:31 And for Allen, who plays in Class 9 para-events for those with mild impairments in their legs or playing arm, there was only going to be one choice. «When I first started, I was already playing tennis, badminton, cricket, football, I always had those skills. It's partly me having a natural talent for it and also just enjoying it while on holiday,» said Allen, who is supported by a partnership between SportsAid and Entain and was speaking ahead of SportsAid Week 2023.

«I got to GCSE age, and it was kind of an ultimatum of 'you've got to narrow it down and pick one now.' »I think I chose table tennis because I felt I had a bit more natural ability in it and also, and at that age when you're starting to get into the senior levels of those sports, quite a lot of them become very physical. «I hadn't quite filled out my body yet, I was still quite thin. Table tennis is a sport where it doesn't matter what your build or your body type is.

It is much more of a skill-based game. »My overall aim is probably the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2026. To get there you've got to have smaller events along the way.