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Barnes and Hoddle - masters of table tennisby Ollie W - BBC Sport (U9048777) 19 March 2008   I thought the days when I'd be able to see John Barnes leap into the air with delight, hug a team-mate and lift a trophy at a top tournament were over. I'm currently reigning office champion, by virtue of a dodgy bounce off garden furniture There's a long way for them to go, which was made obvious when they were both dispatched by their opponents in the first round (although those opponents, Chen Weixing and Kalinkos Kreanga, went on to contest the final, which Kreanga won).Knight spoke briefly to the crowd after his match and handled a few stock questions about playing in a big arena, and the 2012 Games. Drinkhall - the GB number one - wasn't even afforded that chance. It's a shame the pair couldn't have been given a slightly better platform. Sport is about personalities and watching someone hopping up and down at the end of a table, even in the Royal Albert Hall, won't convey that. Speaking to them earlier in the afternoon they were bright, bubbly and enjoying the day, and it would have been good to see that shine through to the young fans in the crowd and watching at home. Maybe things were better on telly than in the arena. If table tennis thinks it suffers an image problem, the sight of Barnesy hoisting a trophy aloft might help to some degree, but the sport needs to show off its young stars. That said, the evening has had its desired effect on at least one person. I've hardly been able to put my bat down since leaving. BBC Sport don't have a proper table but we've commandeered what amounts to some old garden furniture. I'm delighted to report I'm currently reigning champion, by virtue of a dodgy bounce off the hole where you'd normally put the parasol in the table. Did you see Monday night's Masters? Has it persuaded you to get the bat and mangled net out of an obscure under-stairs cupboard? Or will it take more than Glenn Hoddle in tracksuit bottoms to get you into table tennis? Latest 10 commentsRead members' comments or add your own
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MKChris (U4420427) posted Mar 27, 2008 It was a cracking evening, though I'd have rather someone other than Waldner was there instead of him.. preferably someone who actually looked like he wanted to be there. The missus would have liked Timo Boll, but I suspect that may not be for table tennis reasons!
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NoRtHeRnMiDz™ (U3839584) posted Mar 27, 2008 Drinkhall beat the world number 40 the other week in the German Bundesliga.
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1981claret (U1913851) posted Mar 29, 2008 Northern Midz- grow up.... incedentally did you ssee the result of the National U21's?
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MKChris (U4420427) posted Apr 1, 2008 Darius won the Under 21s last year too.. I wonder if they worked up a deal (being good friends) where Darius wins the Under 21 and Paul goes on to win the singles, only this year it didn't quite work out that way for Paul.
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neil1011 (U8863054) posted Apr 2, 2008 In answer to the Question, what would it take to get you to play?. Bearing in mind a live in Leeds was a national schools winner some 27 years ago. It would take the same now as it would then for me to have continued some half decent facilites to play in.
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NoRtHeRnMiDz™ (U3839584) posted Apr 3, 2008 Drinkhall beats the world number 70 to qualify for the knock out rounds of the European Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
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Crues_Fan_01 (U10998669) posted Apr 11, 2008 why can't you all just play tennis on a court like the rest of us?
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Mr_Jinx (U5351385) posted Apr 14, 2008 Youve got to hold and give
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