Zaiim reaches national semi-finals

A Year 8 pupil is celebrating after reaching the semi-finals of a national table tennis competition.

Zaiim Premji took part in the English Schools Table Tennis Association (ESTTA) event in the U13 category, representing London North schools. He lost to the eventual winner, Ethan Walsh, by 3 games to 1 in the semi-final.

Ethan Walsh then went on to win the boys’ title in straight sets. After picking up his prize, Ethan paid tribute to Zaiim’s performance in their match: “In the semi-final, I had Zaiim Premji and he took a set off me and played really well. But that helped me be warmed up and ready for the final.”

Zaiim has been playing table tennis since he was eight years old. In his first year of playing, he qualified for the U11 Individual Nationals, aged nine. Since then he has qualified every year for the ESTTA and English Table Tennis Association individual national finals. He was spotted as a potential England player and was asked to be part of the London Regional Squad to have additional specialist coaching, also attending a camp at Lilleshall, the national sports centre in Shropshire.

Since starting at QE, Zaiim has been training locally with Urban Progress Table Tennis Club and also helps with coaching table tennis at School during PE lessons.