An Ayrshire table tennis star has spoken of her pride at landing a place on the Scotland team for this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Rebecca Plaistow, 22, is one of four Scottish table tennis athletes to be selected for the Games.
This will be Rebecca’s debut after missing on a Scotland team place at the Gold Coast, Australia in 2018.
The starlet, who was first introduced to the game at 13 when she attended coaching sessions at South Ayrshire Table Tennis Club, is already a huge name in the sport and tops the Scottish rankings.
Rebecca , an NHS nutritionist, said of her selection: "I’m really, really happy.
“It's probably one of the biggest events I will play in my career, so I am really pleased to be selected. I’m really looking forward to the experience and the different types of players I will get to play.”
Roy Claxton, head coach at South Ayrshire Table Tennis Club, said: “We’re very proud of Rebecca, she’s a superstar.
“It’s great news from a club point of view; it’s one of our own that has been selected to play on one of the biggest stages of them all.
“She first came to the club aged 13, then at 16 she was the ladies champion of Scotland. Her achievements have been amazing.”
Joining Rebecca on the trip south will be Scotland team-mates Lucy Elliot, Colin Dalgleish and Gavin Rumgay.
Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss, said: “I am thrilled that Gavin, Colin, Lucy and Rebecca have secured their place at Birmingham 2022.
“It is great to see a mix of experience in the team, with Gavin competing in his fifth Games and Colin his second, whilst Lucy and Rebecca make their debuts."
Table Tennis will take place at the NEC Arena in Birmingham between July 29 and August 8 with two sessions a day.
Meanwhile, South Ayrshire Table Tennis Club has issued an appeal for new members.
The club lost almost their entire junior section due to two years of Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, resulting in some players disappearing the sport.
However, Roy and his colleagues have issued a new appeal for members, especially junior ones.
He said: “After two years of Covid, we’ve pretty much lost the junior section because they couldn’t come along to sessions."
Various training sessions take place each week at Mossblown Leisure Centre on Annbank Road.
If you want to find out more about the club, go to southayrshirettc.net
You can also contact the club via their Facebook page.
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