Sulkowski steals show at Leinster Table Tennis Masters

BALLYMENA-based Pawel Sulkowski made a very successful foray into the Leinster Table Tennis Masters at Lucan, winning two titles on his debut at the event.

Sulkowski has been creating waves in the local table tennis scene for the last few years and is the current County Antrim veteran champion but his weekend’s victory must rate as his most memorable performance to date with the cream of Irish veteran table tennis in attendance.

In the Open veterans event, Sulkowski overturned a 1-2 deficit to defeat local favourite Kevin Mackey, in five sets of sharp, high tempo table tennis.

The final in contrast produced a real clash of styles between aggressive topspin and durable anti-loop defence when Sulkowski faced Irish table tennis legend Tommy

Caffrey. Having succumbed to Sulkowski’s consistent, powerful topspin strokes in the first two sets, Caffrey changed tack. From the start of the third set, Caffrey engaged in more counter hitting and blocking close to the table. Those in attendance were treated to several high class extended rallies and Caffrey levelled the match at 2-2.

Sulkowski made a determined, powerful start to the fifth set to lead 5-1, and he closed the match out 11-4.

But there was more to come as Sulkowski, to underline his supremacy on the day, also won the Restricted 40s event.

His most notable win on the way to the final was his defeat of the third ranked Irish veteran Kevin Devaney in a match of hit and counter hit.

In the final Sulkowski met Pat McCloughan and played flawless table tennis to put a stop to McCloughan’s giant killing with a comfortable win in the final.

This was an ideal start to the table tennis season and just reward for Sulkowski’s dedicated training each Tuesday at the Academy Strongtower’s base at Ballymena Academy and he will be hoping his fine form continues into the league campaign that starts this week.