Kingston’s Marcus Giles is on the pathway to international success says one of England’s leading table tennis coaches.

The Hollyfield School student was celebrating this week after being named in the performance group for Table Tennis England’s 28-strong England youth squad.

The 15-year-old was selected after skill and fitness examinations of all players who applied to join the squad at an assessment day at the National Sports Centre in Lilleshall this month.

Giles, who has a practice table at his home in Alfred Road, has committed to a programme of 10 national training camps designed to prepare him for life in the senior international set-up.

And national talent development coach Matt Stanforth reckons it is a major step for his career.

“The standard of the players on the assessment day was very high and it was clear everyone had been working hard both on and off the table to give themselves the best chance to be selected,” he said.

“The programme allows us to not only work with the players more, but to also work closely with the players’ local coaches who are absolutely integral to their development.

“Only together can we be successful and we hope this programme will allow us to successfully prepare players for future senior international success.”