A RAMSBOTTOM schoolgirl swept aside the competition to take home a national table tennis title last weekend.

Sandy Choong, aged 13, dropped just three games on her way to winning the English Schools Under-13 Girls’ national title in Wolverhampton.

The Woodhey High School pupil, who lives in Sims Close, beat Erin Green 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5) in the final.

Cheered on by her parents, Sandy eased through the group and knockout stages to get to the final, with the only games dropped prior to the final coming during a hard-fought semi-final triumph over Raquel Sao Pedro, which she won 3-2 (11-9, 12-14, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8).

Choong, who is originally from Hong Kong and only moved to the UK with her family last summer, said: “It’s the best thing I have won in table tennis but it was difficult.

“In the semi-final I thought I was going to lose but I believed in myself and didn’t give up.”

Sandy’s father, Jimmy, added: “She worked hard and did very well. I’m really happy.”

Sandy started playing the sport at the age six, and, while the manner of her victories suggest she may have a big future in the sport, her father says she is keeping her options open.

“She has not decided anything yet. She likes to study and read and has lots of different interests,” he said.