Teenage table tennis star Lewis Gray has been crowned the national under-14 boys' singles champion.

The 14-year-old Weald TTC member from Benenden, who trains in Cranbrook with the South East regional development squad, was seeded third at the tournament in Norwich.

However he only dropped one game on the day, to top seed and rival, Middlesex’s Ping Ho.

Gray remained undefeated against the dangerous opponent, fighting through 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 13-11.

In the final Gray contained powerful Reece Tan of Essex to take an 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 victory.

The pair contested one of the most spectacular points of the championships with Gray pinned by the barriers but lob-returning a succession of eight or nine forehand kills from Tan before finally losing the point.

Gray has previously been under-10 and under-12 national boys’ champion and reached the latter stages of the under-14 competition after winning his group then beating south east squad colleague Ross Wilson of Gillingham’s Howard club and Connor Neenan of Middlesex in the second round.