King reigns supreme in Bristol

Hastings-raised King, recently turned 19, lifted the under-21 women’s singles in the Bribar Bristol Grand Prix at the University of West England.

She fought hard to win her group on Sunday, and then came through successive five- game encounters against Irish defender Chloe O’Halloran in the quarter-finals and the dangerous Jasmin Ould in the semi-finals.

After these tough matches, a free-flowing King had a relatively easy 11-4, 11-4, 11-9 victory over Hong Kong’s Yuki Wat, who boards at her old school, St Bede’s.

King was the top seed for the band one women’s singles on Saturday. Although she still qualified for the knockout phase, the England senior number eight was beaten in straight games in her group by Emma Tovey, the number 20.

On reaching the semi-finals, King was easily beaten in straight games, 2-11, 5-11, 7-11 by the England number 10 and eventual winner Abbie Millwain (Derbyshire).

King was much sharper on Sunday. She easily won her open women’s singles group and finished strongly in a five- game first round match with Emily Bolton (Cumbria).

In the quarter-finals, King hit top form in avenging her earlier defeat to Tovey in straight games. This set up a semi-final clash with England champion and number one Kelly Sibley (Warwickshire), and King had chances to take at least a game, though ultimately Sibley was too consistent and went on to win the event.