Hastings-based table tennis prospect King was part of the South East girls' team which was pipped 4-3 by the North East in a bronze medal play-off at Bath University.

The South East began their campaign in the groups with a comfortable 6-1 victory over Northern Ireland, Bexhillians and Weald TTC member King winning her two singles.

They then went down 4-3 to the North East. King and Sarra Wang (Essex) lost a close doubles, but King finished by beating Chloe Whyte (Cleveland) in three tight games 11-9, 12-10, 12-10.

In possibly the key clash, King, England's number 12 junior girl, led by two games to one against the England number two Karina Le Fevre (Cleveland) before fading 5-11, 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 2-11.

Then the South East beat Scotland 5-2 to qualify for the semi-finals, with King, who has just left Claremont School, contributing two singles wins.

In the semi-finals, the South East met eventual winners the East Midlands, and although beaten 4-1, the South East girls played very well.

In an exciting encounter full of long rallies, King had the audience on the edge of their seats when leading the England junior number one Emma Vickers (Derbyshire) by two games to one, and 6-6 in the fourth, before Vickers pulled through 11-4, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7.

The South East then faced the North East for a second time, in the play-offs for the bronze medal, but sadly lost for a second time 4-3.

King went into top gear, though, beginning by avenging her earlier defeat to Le Fevre with an 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 success (the only loss Le Fevre suffered in the UK Schools Games).

And despite losing concentration in the third game, King overwhelmed Whyte 11-1, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6. But King and Wang again lost the doubles.
English under-14 schools champion King came second in her girls' singles group to qualify for the knockout stages.

She enjoyed a good win over Jordyn Layfield (Cheshire), but was well beaten by Vickers, who pinned her on her backhand with mixed length blocking.

King, who will begin a sports scholarship at St Bede's School next week, had a great opportunity to beat the England number seven, the defensive Melissa Wright (Yorkshire), in the first knockout round.

She dominated for most of an excellent match and led in all five games, but when King was two games to one and 7-4 up, Wright called 'time-out' and won the next seven points.

And in the deciding game, King was 8-6 ahead, but lost the last five points to go down 11-5, 12-14, 11-8, 7-11, 8-11.

King has been selected for England Youth Development Squad training at Lilleshall National Sports Centre this weekend.