ACADEMY PLAYERS Q&A
Meet Our Vibrant Players at Archway Academy
To help you get to know our academy players, Joe Kiloran (right) has designed this Q&A, which covers some of the most interesting aspects of a table tennis player's playing life. By clicking on the image of a player, you will be taken to the information given by them.
At the end of this page, our head coach Gareth Herbert (right) also provides some of the top tips on how to keep making progress in one's table tennis playing career.
Adam Jepson
How long have you played table tennis for?
11 years
What is your earliest memory of playing the game?
Going down the local village hall in Yaxley on Thursday nights, practising with my dad on the bottom table
Do you/did you play table tennis at school?
No
What is your personal favourite shot that you play?
Forehand Counter
What is your personal favourite exercise ( on the table )?
Backhand middle backhand wide
Why do you enjoy the sport?
Find it addictive
Your best win?
Alex Ramsedem (Ranked 15 in the Men’s at the time
Who got you into the sport of table tennis?
My dad
Who was your first coach?
Stewart Agar @ Yaxley table tennis club
Which player inspired you to train and try and improve?
Daniel Fielding
Who have you learnt most off?
Dennis Neale
Who is your favourite player domestically?
Paul Drinkhall
Who is your favorite professional European player?
Paul Drinkhall
Who is your favourite professional Chinese player?
Zhang Jike
If you could have a knock with anyone in the world who would it be?
Harmotio
Who did you initially try and model your game on (if anyone)?
Nobody
What do you enjoy doing when not playing table tennis?
Socialising with friends
Do you play any other sports?
No
How do you relax off the table?
Going out socialising with friends also watching football and horse racing
Who are your role models( can be anybody)?
Jordan Henderson
What are your aspirations in the game?
Win Premier British league with Archway; Top 10 in England and a national medal
How are you enjoying your time at Archway?
Enjoys it, good environment to improve good relationship with all the players, quality coaches, motivational going to training, seeing a high calibre of coaches
What do you like most about Archway?
Friendly environment, level of coaches
With the support of the club set up, coaches and self determination what do you hope to achieve in the 2020/21 season?
Top 15 in England, improve all round game and qualify nationals, Win British league championship with Archway
Joe Killoran
How long have you played table tennis for?
15 years
What is your earliest memory of playing the game?
Playing at primary school at lunch time
Do you/did you play table tennis at school?
Yes, played for school team
What is your personal favourite shot that you play?
Forehand spin up off backspin
What is your personal favourite exercise ( on the table )?
2 backhands 2 forehands
Why do you enjoy the sport?
The pace of the game, and many different shots and aspects there are to master
Your best win?
Adam Harrison
Who got you into the sport of table tennis?
Head teacher in primary school
Who was your first coach?
Arron Beach
Which player inspired you to train and try and improve?
Kevin Dolder
Who have you learnt most off?
Gareth Herbert
Who is your favourite player domestically?
Tom Jarvis
Who is your favorite professional European player?
Timo Boll
Who is your favourite professional Chinese player?
Zhang Jike
If you could have a knock with anyone in the world who would it be?
Timo Boll, loop to loop
Who did you initially try and model your game on (if anyone)?
Timo Boll attack and spin on both sides
What do you enjoy doing when not playing table tennis?
Watching other sports, playing other sports watching TV
Do you play any other sports?
Yes, Cricket and Darts
How do you relax off the table?
Watch series on Netflix watch other sports and walks
Who are your role models( can be anybody)?
Timo Boll /Luka Modric
What are your aspirations in the game?
I want play in the English National Championships regularly, experience playing abroad
How are you enjoying your time at Archway?
Really enjoy the challenge of training everyday amounts other top players, listening and taking advice from all of the coaches
What do you like most about Archway?
Opportunity to focus and practice table tennis first and foremost, team atmosphere going into tournaments and the quaintly of the coaches
With the support of the club set up, coaches and self determination what do you hope to achieve in the 2020/21 season?
I want to improve my ranking significantly winning lot’s of matches and win a band at the Grand Prix’s tournaments, also to qualify for the national championships
Jacob Kurowski
How long have you played table tennis for?
9 years
What is your earliest memory of playing the game?
first forehand in Poland in the club
Do you/did you play table tennis at school?
Yes
What is your personal favourite shot that you play?
Dyjas style backhand off the table
What is your personal favourite exercise ( on the table )?
Backhand middle backhand wide
Why do you enjoy the sport?
Because I want to carry on the sport within the family
Your best win?
Remy French chopper
Who got you into the sport of table tennis?
Marek Father
Who was your first coach?
Sylwester Dąbrowski
Which player inspired you to train and try and improve?
Brother Kamel
Who have you learnt most off?
Father and brother
Who is your favourite player domestically?
Jacob Dyjas
Who is your favorite professional European player?
Dyjas/Timo
Who is your favourite professional Chinese player?
Fan Zhen Dong
If you could have a knock with anyone in the world who would it be?
Hugo Calderano
Who did you initially try and model your game on (if anyone)?
Hugo Calderano
What do you enjoy doing when not playing table tennis?
Video games
Do you play any other sports?
Football
How do you relax off the table?
Video games
Who are your role models( can be anybody)?
Hugo Calderno, Kamel brother
What are your aspirations in the game?
Ranked Top 10 men in Poland
How are you enjoying your time at Archway?
Lots of fun, made many friends, improved a lot since a joined the club
What do you like most about Archway?
Atmosphere around club
With the support of the club set up, coaches and self determination what do you hope to achieve in the 2020/21 season?
Top 30 Under 21s Ratings; try to qualify for Polish Nationals
Adam Wilson
How long have you played table tennis for?
4 Years
What is your earliest memory of playing the game?
Playing at Chippenham table tennis club having knock with dad and brother
Do you/did you play table tennis at school?
No
What is your personal favourite shot that you play?
Backhand re-loop
What is your personal favourite exercise ( on the table )?
Backhand Middle Backhand Wide
Why do you enjoy the sport?
Love the feeling of playing
Your best win?
Brian Kwyan
Who got you into the sport of table tennis?
Father Colin Wilson
Who was your first coach?
Father Colin Wilson
Which player inspired you to train and try and improve?
Brother Sam Wilson
Who have you learnt most off?
Brother Sam Wilson
Who is your favourite player domestically?
Paul Drinkhall
Who is your favorite professional European player?
Vladimir Samsanov
Who is your favourite professional Chinese player?
Zhang Jike
If you could have a knock with anyone in the world who would it be?
Vladimir Samsanov
Who did you initially try and model your game on (if anyone)?
Vladimir Samsanov
What do you enjoy doing when not playing table tennis?
going to the Gym and Acting
Do you play any other sports?
No
How do you relax off the table?
Netflix and Ice Cream
Who are your role models( can be anybody)?
Brother Sam Wilson
What are your aspirations in the game?
Get into band 1
How are you enjoying your time at Archway?
Great Opportunities, really Insightful
What do you like most about Archway?
Big Variety of very experienced coaches, Ability to fully focus on table tennis a great lifestyle
With the support of the club set up, coaches and self determination what do you hope to achieve in the 2020/21 season?
Get into band 2 for grand prix’s next year
Jordan Wykes
How long have you played table tennis for?
13 years
What is your earliest memory of playing the game?
Doubles final 8 years old doubles vs Gurnsey with playing with Phillip
Do you/did you play table tennis at school?
No
What is your personal favourite shot that you play?
Backhand punch
What is your personal favourite exercise ( on the table )?
2-2 followed by backhand middle backhand forehand in the second sequence
Why do you enjoy the sport?
It’s difficult to master and love the competition
Your best win?
Patrick Zatowka/Carlo Rossi
Who got you into the sport of table tennis?
Barry Wykes, father
Who was your first coach?
Barry Wykes, father
Which player inspired you to train and try and improve?
Jan Ove Walnder/Mima Ito
Who have you learnt most off?
Jan Ove walnder
Who is your favourite player domestically?
Chris Doran
Who is your favorite professional European player?
Timo Boll
Who is your favourite professional Chinese player?
Ma Long
If you could have a knock with anyone in the world who would it be?
Timo Boll
Who did you initially try and model your game on (if anyone)?
Wang Tao ( Chinese Pimples player)
What do you enjoy doing when not playing table tennis?
Playing PS4, Relaxing with friends and listening to music
Do you play any other sports?
Like playing football and other racquet sports especially badminton
How do you relax off the table?
Playing PS4 with friends
Who are your role models( can be anybody)?
Jan Ove Walnder ; Muhammad Ali
What are your aspirations in the game?
Top 100 in world, be professional table tennis player
How are you enjoying your time at Archway?
Love the practice and coaches give a lot of feedback allowing to improve quickly
What do you like most about Archway?
Standard of the coaches
With the support of the club set up, coaches and self determination what do you hope to achieve in the 2020/21 season?
To consistently win matches in pro tours and achieve top 20 on the English ratings system
Kamil Kurowski
Date of Birth: 14.7.96
Name of Table Tennis Club in Poland: KS Dekorglass Dziakdowo
How did you start playing table tennis?
When I was 6 years old my dad took me to a training session for the very first time and I have loved the game of table tennis ever since.
How many hours per week do you train?
I practice 10 – 14 hours every week
Who are your team mates and what countries are they from?
Wong Chun Ting is from Hong Kong and is ranked 9 in the world
Matsudaira Kenta is from Japan and ranked 15 in the world
Vrablik Jiru is from the Chech Republic and ranked 944 in the world
XU Wenliang is from Poland. He is a very good player but has no world ranking
Fertikowski Pawet if from Poland and is ranked 968
Takakiwa is from Japan and ranked 289 in the world
Who is the best player in the league?
Ho Yinghao, he is a very good player and a match for anyone in the world.
What is your favourite thing about table tennis?
My favourite thing is that I travel so have the opportunity to make new friends all of the time and see new places that I may have never seen if I didn’t play table tennis.
Who is your favourite player of all time?
For me, it’s Timo Boll. He plays incredible table tennis, very consistent from both backhand and forehand and plays unbelievable table tennis
Who is your sporting hero?
I will stick to table tennis and say Timo Boll
What interests do you have outside the world of table tennis?
I love football, movies and adventure
What football team will win the World Cup?
France
What club football team do you support?
Man united
Who in your opinion is the best player in the England team?
Harry Kane
“Mental Toughness, is the difference between winning and losing”
The goal for all academy players is to be successful, reach their highest potential and it’s the coaches role to help them achieve their goals. It is well known and appreciated by all involved in sport that you can never find a substitute for hard work. It is our role at Archway Academy to ensure that every player is working at their maximum and our environment, just a few tables in operation at any one time and a couple of coaches the majority of the time allows us coaches to get the most out of each player each and every session. Technical development at Archway will take it’s natural course with lots of technical focus each session. The real challenge for us coaches is helping players understand the importance of mental strength and training them to deal with this when practicing.
This can be a difficult thing to create when the feeling in training is so different to the reality of a competitive environment where there are consequences to missing/losing. In training, if you miss a ball and therefore lose a point, you can play the next point, try to correct your mistake or the outcome of the point but in matches, losing that point can mean that you have lost a game, a match or even more simple than that, you can be a point down. It is the coaches role to make players understand that every point matters in training, the outcome of the point is not important but what is important is that players need to understand that every point is important, even in training. If players can develop this attitude even in training, they will be stronger in matches, knowing that they won’t break down easily or lose focus on each point, making them difficult to beat.
At Archway, we can provide the facility and foundation for players to make great progress but players must buy into the importance of technical development which will in turn make players tactically better due to the technical excellence. Player must also take on board the importance of mental strength and the edge that you will have on your opponent If you train in this way, you are giving yourself the ability to navigate your way through big matches where others haven’t had the same development. Being physically fit will also give you mental toughness. So often, you see finals of competition that are an anti-climax with one player performing below par and the other flourishing. There are many reasons for this but one of the reasons is the lack of physical fitness and therefore a lack of mental toughness.
With all this in mind, at Archway we want to help players to be physically strong, technically developed and have mental toughness, In table tennis, mental toughness is not about keeping the ball on the table more than any other player, everything is interlinked:
Technical excellence give you more tactical options. More tactical options gives you more options in matches to fall back on, giving you a greater chance to win. Physical fitness allows you to have better technical stroke production and allows you to player at a higher level, for longer.
In a nutshell:
“To be mentally strong you need good, reliable and well developed technique, have physical strength allowing you to develop stroke play and movement, train yourself to value every point in training (try to win every point) and do this, playing positively, using the archway Blue Print”
