In early October, England’s Kelly Sibley sat distraught after the bronze medal match in the Women’s Team event at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi; a large towel hid her face as Jill Parker, the England Team Manager and 1976 European Women’s Singles champion, offered words of consolation.

Undoubtedly the 22 year old thought she had let down the whole country by losing a closely fought five games struggle to Ng Sock Khim. The result gave Malaysia a three-two victory and the bronze medal; for England it was fourth place, the worst place of all.

Of course she was the only person who thought that way. Everyone else was of quite the opposite opinion.

Better News
However, in Warsaw on Friday 12th November 2010 at the Polish Open, life was much better for the young lady from Leamington Spa in the middle of England.

She was responsible for causing one of the few upsets in the first round of the Women’s Singles event; in five games she accounted for Ukraine’s Margaryta Pesotska, seeded no.26, a young lady who in recent years has enjoyed notable successes.

Notable Successes
Winner of the Girls’ Singles title at the ITTF Cadet Challenge in 2005 in the Dominican Republic, the Ukrainian was crowned Cadet Girls’ Singles champion at the European Youth Championships, the following year and then in 2008 and 2009 won the Junior Girls’ Singles crown.

Furthermore, in 2009, she excelled all expectations to clinch the silver medal in the Women’s Singles event at the Liebherr European Championships in Stuttgart.

In New Delhi it had been sadness for Kelly Sibley, in Warsaw it was delight.