Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) and Table Tennis Scotland today confirmed that they would be sending a men’s team to participate in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and announced the three players selected to represent Team Scotland in the singles, doubles and team events. This is the third of 16 sports competing in Delhi to have its athlete selections confirmed.

Table Tennis is an optional sport in the Commonwealth Games and first appeared on the programme in Manchester 2002. Whilst Scotland participated in table tennis in Manchester, there was huge disappointment when they subsequently failed to qualify for Melbourne in 2006. The sport has gone to great lengths to ensure they have players on the team for Delhi and put much of their success down to the impact their national coach Li Chao from China has made over the last 18 months.

26 year old Gavin Rumgay, the six time Scottish champion and British number two from Perth, has been in good form this season, beating the British number one, Paul Drinkhall, in their last two meetings starting at the Wolverhampton Grand Prix in May where he secured the 18th British Grand Prix title of his career. However it was this latest win against Drinkhall at the World Team Championships in Moscow in April, along with some other significant wins in the same tournament, that saw Gavin make a meteoric rise thirty places up the world rankings and secure his Commonwealth Games spot. Gavin lives and trains in England and is aiming for selection in the GB team for London 2012.

He will be joined in Delhi by 34 year old Stewart Crawford from Falkirk who was also part of the team in Manchester and up and coming youngster Craig Howieson from Edinburgh. 20 year old Craig, the Scottish number two, has already had a taste of India when he represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune 2008 and will be confident of building on the experience.

Congratulating the team, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “I am absolutely delighted that table tennis has qualified for Delhi and I would like to welcome Gavin, Craig and Stewart to Team Scotland. They have truly earned their places on the team and I hope that they now can focus over these next two months on their final preparations that will put them in the best possible shape for the Games.”

Jon Doig, Team Scotland Chef de Mission added: “All three players can feel rightly proud of their achievement in being selected for Team Scotland. This is the first step to achieving their goals in Delhi and all the support staff look forward to ensuring they have every opportunity to excel at the Games.”

On behalf of Table Tennis Scotland, Team Leader Tricia Whitaker said: “I am delighted that the team have qualified for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi after a lot of hard work and dedication from the TTS National Performance Team. I would like to congratulate the players and coaching team led by our Performance Director Peter Stewart, on their achievement and wish them every success in Delhi in October.”

The table tennis competition will be held at the Yamuna Sports Complex 4-14 October 2010.

Athlete Events Age Lives

Stewart Crawford, Singles & Team, 34yrs, Falkirk FK2
Craig Howieson, Singles, Doubles & Team, 20yrs, Edinburgh EH10
Gavin Rumgay, Singles, Doubles & Team, 26yrs, Perth PH1/Sheffield

Table Tennis Team Leader, Tricia Whitaker, Perth PH1
Head Coach, Li Chao, Glasgow G12