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Ben's secret weapon

13 Aug, 2010 01:00 AM
A TOPSPIN forehand will be Ben Taylor's secret weapon at the national junior table tennis championships next month.

The 15-year-old Warrnambool Table Tennis Association ace has been selected as a bottom-age player in Victoria's under 18 B team.

It will be Ben's second outing at the national tournament.

Last year he represented the state's under 15 squad in Tasmania.

This year the South West Academy of Sport (SWAS) talent has played his way around Victoria to collect ranking points.

Ben said he had contested at least 30 competitions, some as far away as Gippsland and Albury.

He found out about his selection last week.

"I wasn't 100 per cent sure I'd make the team but I thought it was possible," he said.

"I'd been playing well and I thought I'd made it to enough semi and quarter-finals.

"I'm happy with how I've been playing."

Ben picked up the paddle eight years ago and has quickly worked his way up to be the association's second seed.

The Warrnambool College student described himself as an attacking player at the table.

He said he had spent countless hours perfecting his trademark topspin forehand.

"I use it to get in an attacking position so I can win the point."

Ben's inclusion in the state team will require attendance at compulsory training sessions in Geelong and Croydon before jetting off to Queensland for the championships.

"I want to go well in the teams and be competitive in the singles," he said.

Hamilton's Justin Field has also been selected for the state's under 15 president's team while SWAS program manager Mark Taylor will coach one of the Victorian sides.

Allansford's Sarah Lazzaro is in the under 18 girls' group. Ben, Sam Bacchetti, Jacob Lenehan and Matt Van Rooy will represent Warrnambool College at the state school table tennis finals in Melbourne on Tuesday.

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Ben Taylor, 15, will bring his trademark topspin forehand to the national junior table tennis titles next month.
Ben Taylor, 15, will bring his trademark topspin forehand to the national junior table tennis titles next month.

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