STUDENT TO REPRESENT GREAT BRITAIN AT TABLE TENNIS

Current Web Design student, Alireza Kamrani-Masooleh, will be representing Great Britain at the first World Deaf Open Table Tennis Championships which will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria from 31 May - 9 June 2008.

The 36 year old has been playing table tennis for over 20 years and developed an interest in the sport whilst at boarding school in Iran. The Croydon Skills and Enterprise student (forms part of Croydon College) cites his favourite players as those from the Ukraine.

Alireza, who lives in West Croydon, describes the moment six months ago when he was told by his coach that he would be representing the country at this prestigious event in Bulgaria. He said: "It felt really good when I was told that I'd been picked to represent Great Britain."

With over 70 table tennis competitors, Alireza explained his hopes for these Championships: "There are lots of strong teams but I'm hoping to win a gold medal."

Alireza plays table tennis at the College and has ambitions to compete in the 2009 Championships in Taipei, Taiwan.