Table tennis champion to represent SA at 2015 All-Africa Games

Patel is one of four table tennis players and 14 UJ representatives selected for the prestigious continental games, which take place from 4 September.

She is no stranger to international competition, having participated in the World Student Games in Russia in 2013 and the ITTF Africa Senior Championships in Egypt in January. She successfully defended her national singles title this year and also scooped the silver medal in the mixed doubles category alongside fellow UJ student, Chetan Nathoo.

Patel said her goal for the tournament would be to watch and learn from the other international players and gain experience. "Our table tennis ladies' team is one of the best I've seen and we hope to make it as far as possible."

Strongest rivals

She said their strongest rivals would be Egypt, who counted current African champion Dina Meshref among their stars. "She's an amazing player who is also left-handed like me and is awesome to watch."

Other teams to watch would be Nigeria, Tunisia and Algeria, said Patel. "The international standard is very difficult to compete with as players are well trained with professional coaches."

The biokinetics honours student said she trained three times a week, with league matches on Wednesday evenings. "On the weekends I focus on physical fitness and during the holidays I play as much as I can."

She has won the national student champs' singles title twice, the doubles category with Meenal Morar twice, and claimed mixed doubles gold with Nathoo three times.
Global games

Although 2016 is an Olympic year, Patel said she still needed years of work to be ready for the global games. She said table tennis in South Africa had grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years but that much development was still needed.