Agonisingly one place short of competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, she was the first reserve for the Women’s Singles event; England’s Kelly Sibley is high on the selection list for the Great Britain Team to compete in the table tennis events at the forthcoming 2012 Olympic Games in London.

She is the reigning English National champion and alongside Joanna Parker, very much a mainstay of the national team.

However, with funding for table tennis not being as plentiful as other sports, where perhaps medal hopes are higher, players with aspirations of competing in the ExCel Arena in just over six months-time are in need of help and support.

Special Event
Therefore, the local association in Kelly Sibley’s home town, Leamington Spa, will stage a special tournament on Saturday 10th March 2012 to support their heroine.

Alan Cooke Present
Former Commonwealth and National champion, now the Head Coach for the England Women’s Team, Alan Cooke, will be on duty.

He will play an exhibition match against 22 year old Kelly Sibley in the evening at 5.30pm, to bring a full day’s play to a conclusion. 

Tournament
Earlier in the proceedings, commencing at 9.15am and concluding at 4.30pm, a tournament, with players allocated to grades according to ability will be staged; 112 players being the maximum accepted.

All entry fees and proceeds from the day will go to support “Kelly’s Olympic Dream”.

Excellent Ambassador
“Kelly was born in Leamington, is an international table tennis player and has been representing England at senior level since the age of 15; she is the current Ladies National Champion”, said Dot Macfarlane, the event organiser. “Kelly is an excellent ambassador for the sport and won both the Warwickshire Young Sportswoman of the Year and the BBC Midlands Sports Breakthrough Award in 2006; she is also President of local Lillington Free Church Table Tennis Club, where her table tennis career began, she frequently mentors young players when training commitments allow.”

Growth Area
Leamington Spa, thanks to largely to the efforts of Malcolm Macfarlane and an enthusiastic local organising committee, has been one of the growth areas in table tennis in recent years and in Kelly Sibley the area has an icon.

She has achieved heights never previously attained by a local player.

Cannot Match Mother
Wait a minute, that’s maybe not true? Her mother Lynn, who in domestic competitions sits patiently courtside giving advice, was no mean players. 

She won the Women’s Singles title at the annual Leamington Spa Championships more times than I have fingers and thumbs.

Now, to the best of my knowledge, Kelly cannot match that record; there again, she might just sacrifice that record for a place in the London 2012 Olympic Games?

Source: http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story1.asp?ID=26559&Category=General&Competition_ID=&

Share this post