King reaches pair of finals in London

Table tennis talent Yolanda King reached the final of two events at the London Grand Prix.
Yolanda King was the proud recipient of the University of Nottingham Sportswomen of the Year AwardYolanda King was the proud recipient of the University of Nottingham Sportswomen of the Year Award
Yolanda King was the proud recipient of the University of Nottingham Sportswomen of the Year Award

The 20-year-old from Hastings was thwarted by the same player each time at Redbridge Sports Centre last weekend.

Currently the no.8 ranked woman in England, King had an outstanding 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 semi-final victory over England no.6 Emma Vickers (Derbyshire) in the open women’s singles event.

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In the final, however, the Weald TTC (Cranbrook) member was beaten 10-12, 3-11, 11-8, 4-11 by old rival Abbie Milwain (Derbyshire), the England no.9.

King had started well, leading throughout the first game until Millwain squeaked it with a bit of luck. Thereafter, although King won the third game, Milwain looked in overall control, playing a fast, tight game and giving nothing away.

The two players met again in the under-21 women’s singles final. This time, playing better in a match that went the full distance, King was unlucky not to come out on top in the fifth game.

She led at 5-4 and 7-5, and should have taken two key points only to twice miss an open table. Millwain then got two edges at the end of the game, one on match point, to triumph 6-11, 11-4, 11-8, 12-14, 11-7.

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King, who had beaten Milwain in four consecutive matches beforehand, got some consolation as she took additional prize money for coming top of the Grand Prix series of under-21 women’s singles events over the season.

Friends and rivals King, Vickers and Milwain travelled back together to the Midlands where they are all studying at university.

Earlier in the week King was the proud recipient of the University of Nottingham Sportswoman of the Year award for her overall contribution and achievement in sport, and in particular leading the Nottingham team which won the British Universities & Colleges National Women’s Team Knockout Competition.

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