Olympics call for table tennis pair

Paul Drinkhall and Joanna Parker are among the six players selected for Team GB to compete in London this summer.

It's the pinnacle of the career of the pair, who are both based in Clifton and train at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

Drinkhall (22) recently broke into the world top 100 at senior level, having enjoyed success at junior level, including three European junior titles and a silver medal at the World Junior Championships.

He said: "It’s a great achievement to be selected for Team GB. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to play in a home Games. I can only guess how it will feel but it’s a fantastic opportunity."

Parker (25), the English National Champion, was also delighted to win her place in the women's team alongside Kelly Sibley, who is another national champion, and Na Liu from the ITTP Pro Tour.

Parker said: "In the last few months the competition has really intensified. We’ve known for four years now that it’s coming, so we’ve been battling. It’s a relief to finally be picked and it’s so exciting because it’s real now and we’re almost there."

Drinkhall and Parker join sailor Paul Goodison, archer Amy Oliver, swimmers Becky Turner and Joe Roebuck and water polo ace Fran Leighton in Rotherham's clutch of competitors at the Games.