Jamie Dignum celebrates after winning the under-13 boys singles title at the east London finals of the Jack Petchey Championships

Tower Hamlets youngster Jamie Dignum has progressed through to the Jack Petchey Foundation’s London Schools’ Championships after winning the recent regional event.

The 13-year-old Dignum took the top honours in the under-13 boys’ singles competition, hosted by Bethnal Green’s Morpeth School.

Dignum, who also attends Morpeth School, was one of 88 players from 11 schools across the London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, City of London, Hackney, Havering, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets to take part, but he beat off all the competition to claim the top prize.

And the youngster, who has been playing the sport since the age of 10, admitted he was surprised to take the title.

“The speed of the sport is amazing. You also get to go to lots of different tournaments around London and the UK. If you are really good you get to travel abroad as well,” he said.

“I like meeting other players from different schools and it makes the game more interesting as you don’t know their style of play or tactics.

“I can’t believe I am East London under-13 champion and can’t wait for the final.”

The Jack Petchey London Schools’ Table Tennis Championships initiative is hosted by the English Table Tennis Association (ETTA).

The competition is designed to get more young people interested in playing the sport at school for fun and also to compete.

It involves individual and team competitions open to boys and girls in full-time education at under-11, 13, 16 and 19 age groups.

All winners progress to the Jack Petchey London Schools’ finals at the University of East London on Saturday, June 18.

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