TABLE-TENNIS
There was great news at this the beginning of the Table-Tennis season when local ace, the evergreen Ramesh Bhalla, took the Over Eighties European Men’s Singles title.
This year the European Veterans Championship was held in Helsingborg in Sweden. The entry was very large, over 2000 and was represented by 38 European countries. In common with other sports the players played in their own age group category.
In the final Bhalla met the number one seed from Finland, Kai Marimaa, defending the title he had won in last year’s Championships. .The final was very well attended and Ramesh was supported by the 90 odd England contingent; He took the title by three sets to one in fine style.
Bhalla, a retired Charted Electrical Engineer, is a six times Guildford Men’s Singles Champion and was Hampshire number one for many years. In 1969 he beat Nicky Jarvis in the Scottish Open- Jarvis was England number two at this time. He has represented England Vet’s against Germany. Possibly his greatest success was in spearheading a major Guildford National triumph in the Alec Brook team championship for veterans in 2001. He has been Secretary of the highly successful Burymead club for many years.
CC
John Diggens