Loveridge among the best

ALICE LOVERIDGE showed that she can compete with some of the world's best table tennis players in her age group at the weekend.

She was representing Guernsey in the cadet singles at the Polish Open held near Gdansk in northern Poland and found herself in a tough group with the number two seed Ayuka Tanioka, of Japan, and Paulina Nowacka, from the host country.

Loveridge's first match was against the Japanese girl and the Sarnian found her defensive style difficult to cope with but played well despite losing in three straight games 11-6, 11-8, 11-5.

With two girls qualifying from each group, Loveridge knew she had to beat the Pole to qualify.

The Island Games gold medallist played some her best table tennis to win a high quality match 3-1.

Having lost the first game 11-8, she fought back well to win the next three 11-6, 11-9, 11-5, to qualify second from her group.

Loveridge was hoping for a favourable draw the following day but as runner-up in her group a seed was the likely opponent.

Unfortunately for her, she was drawn against European number two and the number one seed Bernadette Szocs, of Romania.

The Romanian won in three straight sets 11-9, 11-5, 11-9, but the games were close and tightly fought.

Loveridge felt comfortable in this company and felt that on another day she could challenge Szocs.

She may get that opportunity sooner rather than later as she moves from Poland onto France and the French Junior Open being held near Rennes next weekend.

Loveridge will be hoping to earn some more important European ranking points and experience more top-level exposure before competing in the prestigious European Youth championships in Rome in July.

The Guernsey girl also played in the doubles in Poland, teaming up with a Croatian. They were beaten 3-1 in their tie.