Sport / Five young table tennis players selected to represent Scotland
THE SHETLAND Table Tennis Association (STTA) has hailed an “outstanding achievement” for local junior players after five youngsters were selected to represent Scotland.
Ava Swift, Peony Li, Hanna Sneider, Eve Johnson and Dylan Ritch have all earned national selection for the 2026 Primary Schools Internationals.
This follows strong performances at the Scottish Primary Schools Championships in November.
Swift has been named in the Scotland A Team, while Li, Sneider, Johnson and Ritch will represent Scotland in the B Team.
At the Scottish Championships, Swift finished fourth, Li and Ritch placed fifth, Sneider seventh and Johnson eighth, which is said to have been an impressive set of results for the Shetland players competing against the best young talent in the country.
The Primary Schools Internationals will take place from 10-12 April at the SportScotland National Sports Training Centre in Inverclyde.
All five players will compete in both team and individual events against opponents from across the home nations.
The local association said the selections reflect the players’ commitment to training and competition, often balanced alongside schoolwork and the additional travel challenges faced by those living in Shetland.
It added that their success is expected to inspire other local children to get involved in table tennis.
Four of the eight girls selected for the Scotland Primary Schools squads come from the Shetland Table Tennis Association, a notable accomplishment for a small community club.
The association also paid tribute to its volunteer coaches Chris Graham, Archie Constable, Fiona Graham, Tony Li, Tiger Johnson, Greg Burgess, Piotr Drozdowski and Aleks McKay, whose dedication and support is said to have played a key role in developing young players.
STTA development officer Joan Smith said: “The Junior Association was re-established only a couple of years ago, and it’s been fantastic to see it grow from strength to strength.
“With the three-year Coastal Communities Project now complete, this success clearly shows the positive impact it has had on rebuilding junior table tennis in Shetland.
“We’re incredibly proud of what these young players have achieved and excited about the future of the sport locally.”
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