Abigail’s more than a match for her elders

RISING STAR... Abigail Griffith.

TO say ping-pong princess Abigail Griffith is ahead of the game would be an understatement.

The 11-year-old table tennis star, who was part of the national side which won the England Schools International tournament earlier in the year, has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

The sports performer nomination comes just days after she clinched the under-15s and under-18s titles at the Lancashire trials in Preston, beating girls up to seven years her senior in the process.

An amazing 12 months also saw her lift the England National under-11s competition in Doncaster, despite carrying a number of niggly injuries in the run-up to the event.

Dad David said: “I am so proud of Abigail for all the hard work she has put in to her table tennis.

“For the England Nationals I promised her a laptop if she won, which she did.

“Luckily I haven’t had to give her any more incentives, because I would be bankrupt!

“She has continued to improve. The Lancashire trials are a prime example.

“Abigail has competed at under-15 level before so I half expected her to win that category, but to win the under-18s as well was just fantastic.

“I thought she might come in the top two or three but she beat girls who are a number of years older and managed to go all the way.”

The events are coming thick and fast for Abigail, a pupil at Failsworth School Specialist Sports College.

At the end of this month she competes in the Women’s British League in Barnsley, where she will participate in 10 matches.

David added: “This time most of the people she will be up against are adults, so it is another step up for Abigail.

“The competition takes place over two weekends, one at the end of September and one in February next year.

“This first one is very much a case of seeing how it goes because to a certain extent it is a step into the unknown.

“But once again the experience can only be beneficial to Abigail in the long run.

“I am sure she will give it her best shot, and then she will know what to expect in February.”