Helshan Weerasinghe has been drafted in by the Tessa Sanderson Foundation and Academy to receive extra support and funding on his way to hopefully becoming one of Great Britain’s big Olympic hopes.

Weerasinghe, England’s number 1 cadet boy, will now benefit from the TFSA’s work at nurturing young talent in Olympic sports.

The Foundation engages some of the most experienced sports coaches to help young sporting people into achieving their goal in sport whilst still in education. The TFSA offers support to its young sports members through means of donations, fundraising events and activity days.  Funds raised through these events then help the members towards travelling to and from competitions, physiotherapy and medical needs, equipment, diet and nutrition.

For the past three years Shu Huang has been working with a number of GB Paralympics table tennis players and many different schools where she conducts a series of talent identification and coaching sessions.

Weerasinghe, from the Judd School in Tunbridge, was drafted by Shu who was full of praise for the youngster. She said: “Helshan has a great potential in the sport and working with the governing body of the sport is a great boost for youngsters like him to try and become the best in the table tennis, he is a dedicated youngster and is willing to work and train hard and is looking forward to a great season this year”

The TSFA is based in the Newham College of further Education in Stratford where already over 300 young people are taking regular training in table tennis, judo, lawn tennis, football and athletics under the guidance of Foundation coaches.