TEN-YEAR-OLD Jamie Dignum, who attends Globe Primary School in Bethnal Green, showed battling qualities to return from the recent National under-11 table tennis championships in Doncaster with a bronze medal.

TEN-YEAR-OLD Jamie Dignum, who attends Globe Primary School in Bethnal Green, showed battling qualities to return from the recent National under-11 table tennis championships in Doncaster with a bronze medal.

Jamie, who has only been playing table tennis for 15 months and is currently ranked number six in England in his age range, over-powered every player in his group and convincingly won every match 3-0.

He then won three further matches - all by a 3-0 scoreline - to make it through to the quarter-finals where he took on England number three Tom Jarvis, from Lincolnshire.

The east Londoner had never beaten Jarvis before in three attempts and looked set for a fourth loss when he went 2-0 down in sets.

However, thanks to a change of tactics from Morpeth coach Grant Solder, he then won the next two sets to make it 2-2.

With the momentum on his side, Jamie started the fifth and final set like a steam train and won 11-4 to set up a semi-final against England number one Hugo Pang, from Dorset.

In front of the watching England Performance Director Jamie played very well despite losing 0-3 (9-11, 9-11 & 6-11).

"I am extremely proud of Jamie winning a bronze medal at the National championships," said former England ace Grant Solder, his Morpeth coach.

"He has really improved due to his exceptional work rate and the sheer quantity of hours he is training.

"He currently trains 14 hours per week at Morpeth School, where he trains with all of Morpeth's top players and, in my opinion, is one of the most talented players that I have ever worked with."

After his performance at the National championships, Jamie has been selected for his first England training camp at Lilleshall, where he will be tutored by the England national coaching team.