Paul Drinkhall has been presented with the Johnny Leach Most Improved England Player of the Year Award.
The England No 1 received the presentation from Table Tennis England Chairman Sandra Deaton during the European Championships in Russia.
The award is made in the name of player who is a true legend of sport, who was World Men’s Singles champion in 1949 and 1951 and part of the England team which won the Swaythling Cup in 1953.
The accolade acknowledges the success gained by Paul Drinkhall in the past 18 months.
In April 2014, he won the Men’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open in Almeria; later in the year in Ekaterinburg, he was the runner-up at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour, Airports of Regions Russian Open.
He qualified for the prestigious US$ 1,000,000 GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Bangkok where he acquitted himself admirably as he has done this year in Baku at both the NN Table Tennis Club 2015 ITTF Europe TOP 16 and the European Games.
“Paul has made the effort, he is motivated, he works so hard and most importantly he has shown a determination to improve”, said Sandra Deaton.
“He has travelled to ITTF World Tour tournaments on his own initiative, I congratulate Paul for the endeavour he has shown.
“He has now played for a long time and still he shows a passion for the sport; he is a very able and talented player and I think now, more and more he believes in himself.”