Hainsworth off to the palace
AFTER finally getting his hands on the prize, Paul Hainsworth says the secret of his hardbat success is in the arm action.
Hainsworth had just beaten Garry Dodd in four sets to win the final of the Ravenscroft World Ping Pong Championships qualifier when he spoke of his excitement at winning a place among the hard-bat elite at the Sky televised finals at the Alexandra Palace in London early in 2017.
A winner's cheque of £200 aided the smile, too, and having lost the previous two finals – both to Jerseymen – Hainsworth was a popular winner.
'I made it harder for myself by losing that second set,' said the new champion who would normally defer to Dodd in the normal game, but with no mystery rubbers involved Hainsworth is regarded as Guernsey's finest when the bat comprises of nothing more than a slither of sandpaper on top of wood.
'The technique in this is more arm than wrist,' explained Hainsworth.
'You have to play a longer stroke and I've found the knack,' he added.
More in Tuesdays Guernsey Press.
