{"id":21891,"date":"2026-04-25T15:09:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T15:09:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/21891\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T15:09:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T15:09:19","slug":"who-are-the-england-athletes-playing-at-london-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/21891\/","title":{"rendered":"Who are the England athletes playing at London 2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tApril 24, 2026 | Paul Stimpson<\/p>\n

Ten special athletes have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent England in front of a passionate home crowd at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026 Presented by ACN.<\/p>\n

Learn a bit more about the men\u2019s and women\u2019s squads who will be pulling on the three Leopards at OVO Arena Wembley from Saturday 2 May.<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s squad<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Tom Jarvis<\/p>\n

Age: 26<\/p>\n

From: Skegness<\/p>\n

Right-handed, shakehand grip<\/p>\n

Career high ranking: 59 (February 2026)<\/p>\n

Tom is England\u2019s No 1 and reached the last 16 of the Men\u2019s Singles at last year\u2019s ITTF World Championships in Doha, defeating 10th seed and European champion Dang Qiu of Germany on the way.<\/p>\n

Part of the England team which won bronze at the ITTF Team World Cup in London in 2018, he is targeting a first Olympic Games appearance in LA in 21018, having travelled to Rio as a reserve in 2016 and to Tokyo 2020 as a training partner.<\/p>\n

On the WTT circuit, Tom is still searching for his first title, having reached finals at WTT Feeder Fremont (USA) in 2022 and WTT Feeder Dusseldorf in November 2025.<\/p>\n

He & Sam Walker reached the Men\u2019s Doubles final at the 2021 WTT Feeder Dusseldorf, losing to Yuta Tanaka (JPN) and Jo Yokotani (JPN) 3-0 (11-9, 11-3, 11-9), and at the 2024 WTT Feeder Manchester, Jarvis & David McBeath reached the Men\u2019s Doubles final, losing to Martin Allegro & Florent Lambiet (BEL) 3-1 (11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4).<\/p>\n

Tom, who this year won his third national Men\u2019s Singles title, plays in the German Bundesliga for ASC Gr\u00fcnwettersbach.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Connor Green<\/p>\n

Age: 19<\/p>\n

From: Nottingham<\/p>\n

Right-handed, shakehand grip<\/p>\n

Career high ranking: 189 (Mar 2026)<\/p>\n

After making history as the first English junior to reach a WTT Youth Contender final, winning the silver medal at the WTT Youth Contender Tunis in January 2025, Connor has made an exceptional start to his senior career.<\/p>\n

He made more history alongside Tin-Tin Ho in March 2026, beating Borgar Haug (NOR) & Anna Hursey (WAL) 3-2 (11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6) at WTT Feeder Dusseldorf to become England\u2019s first ever WTT Mixed Doubles champions.<\/p>\n

Connor & Tin-Tin also reached the final of the following event, WTT Feeder Otocec, losing out to Keishi Hagihara & Kotomi Omoda (JPN) 3-1 (11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6).<\/p>\n

Alongside Sophie Earley, Connor also reached the Mixed Doubles final at the 2025 WTT Feeder Manchester.<\/p>\n

Connor made his senior England tournament debut at the European Championships in 2024 and competed in the Men\u2019s Doubles at the 2025 ITTF World Championships, alongside Liam Pitchford.<\/p>\n

He won his first national title in 2025, alongside his twin sister Anna in the Mixed Doubles, and this year added a Men\u2019s Doubles title, partnering Tom Jarvis.<\/p>\n

Plays in the regional Bundesliga for Immoxone Bietigheim Bissingen.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sam Walker<\/p>\n

Age: 30<\/p>\n

From: Worksop<\/p>\n

Right-handed, shakehand grip<\/p>\n

Career high ranking: 80 (January 2018)<\/p>\n

A bronze medallist with England at the ITTF World Team Championships in Kuala Lumpur in 2016, Sam has been at the centre of many of England\u2019s historic achievements in the past decade.<\/p>\n

Part of the team which won bronze at the ITTF Team World Cup in London in 2018, Sam also has three Commonwealth Games team medals (a silver and two bronzes).<\/p>\n

He also played a key role in Great Britain\u2019s best ever Olympic performance, reaching the Men\u2019s Team quarter-finals at Rio 2016.<\/p>\n

He was the first English player to win an ITTF world tour doubles title, taking the 2021 Czech Open title alongside Truls Moregard of Sweden.<\/p>\n

In the WTT era, Sam & Paul Drinkhall beat Rafael De Las Heras & Diego Lillo of Spain 3-1 (10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10) to win England\u2019s first ever WTT Men\u2019s Doubles title at the 2025 WTT Feeder Manchester.<\/p>\n

Sam has a total of 10 national titles across Mixed and men\u2019s Doubles and plays in the Bundesliga for TTC Zugbrucke Grenzau.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Paul Drinkhall<\/p>\n

Age: 36<\/p>\n

From: Loftus, near Middlesbrough<\/p>\n

Right-handed, shakehand grip<\/p>\n

Career high ranking: 33 (Jan 2015)<\/p>\n

Paul has been an England international for more than 20 years, making his debut in December 2004 as a 14-year-old.<\/p>\n

He has gone on to play a central role in a series of memorable and historic moments, not least in winning bronze at the ITTF World Team Championships in Kuala Lumpur in 2016, when he won the decisive match in the quarter-final against France to seal a medal. He also played a key role in the 2018 ITTF Team World Cup bronze medal-winning England squad.<\/p>\n

Paul has three Commonwealth Games gold medals \u2013 two in the Men\u2019s Doubles with Liam Pitchford and one alongside his wife Jo in the Mixed Doubles in 2014.<\/p>\n

He has competed at three Olympic Games \u2013 London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, helping Great Britain to achieve a best ever Olympic performance, reaching the Men\u2019s Team quarter-finals in Rio.<\/p>\n

Paul, who has more than 50 national titles across the age groups, first came to prominence as European champion at Junior level and as silver medallist at the World Junior Championships. His achievements made him twice runner-up in the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award.<\/p>\n

Paul became the first English winner of a World Tour event since 1996 when he won the 2014 Spanish Open, and in 2019 became the first English player to win two World Tour events, at the Serbia Open.<\/p>\n

At the Qatar Open in March 2020, he and Liam Pitchford became the first English pair to ever reach a World Tour doubles final, losing to No 1 pair Xu Xin and Ma Long.<\/p>\n

At 2025 WTT Feeder Manchester Paul & Sam Walker beat Rafael De Las Heras & Diego Lillo of Spain 3-1 (10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10) to win England\u2019s first ever WTT Men\u2019s Doubles title.<\/p>\n

Paul has seven Men\u2019s Singles national titles and 27 senior national titles in all, three behind Des Douglas\u2019 all-time total.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Joe Hunter<\/p>\n

Age: 19<\/p>\n

From: Muswell Hill, north London<\/p>\n

Right-handed, shakehand grip<\/p>\n

Career high ranking: 602 (Nov 2025)<\/p>\n

Joseph was selected to join the squad as the wildcard after some impressive recent results.<\/p>\n

This year, he reached the Men\u2019s Singles semi-finals for the first time, beating Connor Green in the quarter-finals and losing to Tom Jarvis in the semis.<\/p>\n

He previously reached the Men\u2019s Doubles final at the Senior Nationals in 2023\/24 alongside Larry Trumpauskas, losing to Paul Drinkhall & Sam Walker.<\/p>\n

Joseph competed at Star Contender London in October, winning his first match at that level of competition, against Abdulbasit Abdulfatai of Nigeria (WR 201).<\/p>\n

A member of the Urban club in north London, Joe also plays in the French league for TT Avion.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s squad<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Tin-Tin Ho<\/p>\n

Age: 27<\/p>\n

From: Paddington, London<\/p>\n

Right-handed, Penhold grip<\/p>\n

Career high ranking: 93 (Dec 2020)<\/p>\n

Although still only 27, Tin-Tin has represented England with distinction for well over a decade. She also has a GB appearance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games under her belt.<\/p>\n

At the Commonwealth Games, she has two Mixed Doubles silvers, alongside Liam Pitchford, and a Women\u2019s Team bronze \u2013 a historic first team medal for England women.<\/p>\n

She was European under-21 Women\u2019s Doubles champion in 2019, alongside Karoline Mischek of Austria and made history in March 2026, alongside Connor Green, beating Borgar Haug (NOR) & Anna Hursey (WAL) 3-2 (11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6) at WTT Feeder Dusseldorf to become England\u2019s first ever WTT Mixed Doubles champions.<\/p>\n

She also became the first English athlete to reach a WTT Women\u2019s Doubles final, alongside Wales\u2019 Anna Hursey at WTT Feeder Manchester 2024.<\/p>\n

Tin-Tin graduated with a medical degree from the University of Nottingham in 2025. In the same year, she and Jiaqi Meng were European Universities Women\u2019s Doubles champions \u2013 Ho also won a singles bronze at that event.<\/p>\n

Tin-Tin has more than 50 national titles across the age groups, and in 2026 became the outright record-holder with her eighth Women\u2019s Singles title, surpassing former European champion and Table Tennis England President Jill Parker MBE.<\/p>\n

Tin-Tin plays in Spain for UCAM Cartagena.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Tianer Yu<\/p>\n

Age: 18<\/p>\n

From: Shoreditch, London<\/p>\n

Right-handed, shakehand grip<\/p>\n

Career high ranking: 225 (Jan 2026)<\/p>\n

Tia was part of an England Senior squad for the first time at the 2025 European Championships Qualifying Tournament, where England successfully reached the finals. She went on to play with distinction in the finals, with two wins as England defeated higher-ranked Italy to reach the knockout stage.<\/p>\n

She reached the Women\u2019s Singles semi-finals on her first appearance at the Senior Nationals in 2023\/24, taking Tin-Tin Ho to a deciding seventh game. She reached the final in both 2024\/25 and 2025\/26, losing out to Ho on both occasions.<\/p>\n

Tia did however win her first senior national title in 2024\/25, winning the Women\u2019s Doubles alongside Mari Baldwin.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jasmin Wong<\/p>\n

Age: 22<\/p>\n

From: Hull<\/p>\n

Right-handed, shakehand grip<\/p>\n

Career high ranking: 426 (May 2022)<\/p>\n

Jasmin made her senior England debut at the 2023 European Team Championships and was also a part of the squad which qualified for the 2025 edition, going on top reach the knockout stage and going out to eventual champions Germany.<\/p>\n

A multiple age group national champion, she reached the national Women\u2019s Singles final for the first time in 2024, losing to Tin-Tin Ho \u2013 she was also beaten in the finals of the Women\u2019s Doubles (with Mari Baldwin) and Mixed Doubles (with Shayan Siraj).<\/p>\n

Jasmin plays in France for Fougeres-Vern.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ella Pashley<\/p>\n

Age: 17<\/p>\n

From: Guisborough<\/p>\n

Right-handed, shakehand grip<\/p>\n

Career high ranking: 463 (April 2026)<\/p>\n

Ella was part of the England senior squad which qualified for the 2025 European Championships, her first time at that level having previously represented her country at the European Youth Championships.<\/p>\n

She made her full senior debut at the Europeans, playing against Germany in the knockout stage.<\/p>\n

A multiple national champion in the age groups, including a clean sweep of singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the Under-17 Nationals last year.<\/p>\n

Ella plays in Sweden for Angby.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Alyssa Nguyen<\/p>\n

Age: 14<\/p>\n

From: Plymouth<\/p>\n

Right-handed, shakehand grip<\/p>\n

Alyssa comes from a family of table tennis players, including older twin brothers Hugo and Leo, who are all from the Joola Plymouth club.<\/p>\n

She reached the Senior Nationals quarter-finals this year, defeating senior England international Mari Baldwin and then losing to Ella Pashley.<\/p>\n

She won the Under-17 national title this year, adding to singles and doubles success at younger age groups.<\/p>\n

Alyssa represented England at the European Youth Championships in 2025.<\/p>\n

Support staff<\/p>\n

\"\"From left: Justin Lucas-Hill (physio), Carlo Agnello (women\u2019s coach), John Murphy (men\u2019s coach), Gavin Evans (Director of Performance Development)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"April 24, 2026 | Paul Stimpson Ten special athletes have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent England in front…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21892,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[26],"tags":[9987,9988,9989,9990,9991,27,9992,9993,9994,9995,9996],"class_list":["post-21891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-london","tag-alyssa-nguyen","tag-connor-green","tag-ella-pashley","tag-jasmin-wong","tag-joseph-hunter","tag-london","tag-paul-drinkhall","tag-sam-walker","tag-tianer-yu","tag-tin-tin-ho","tag-tom-jarvis"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@UnitedKingdom\/116465982909712643","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21891"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21891\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}