Thursday 23 January 2014 GSAL’s under 13 boys table tennis team have been in action in the opening rounds of the English Schools Table Tennis Association (ESSTA) Team Championships. The team of Shayan Siraj, Joel Bhowmick, Ben Hemsley and Vikram Sharma faced school teams from four other counties in the zone finals, which equate to the quarter-finals of this national competition. The teams were divided into two groups, from which the winners and runners up would reach the knockout stages. In the group GSAL won 7-1 against Aldecar Community Language College, Derbyshire, and drew with Outwood Academy, Nottinghamshire, 4 games and 15 sets each to finish as runners up. GSAL then faced Silverdale School, Sheffield, convincingly defeating them 6-2 to reach the final. The final was a rematch with Outwood Academy, which Outwood won 5-3 after a titanic struggle. Both teams progress to the regional finals in February with a place in the national final at stake. “The team played outstandingly well throughout the day and should be congratulated. Shayan didn’t lose a single match.” Senior School News
