Sporting protégé Max Radiven wrote himself into the record books last month when he
became the first English player to win a World Table Tennis (WTT) title in the U15 boys’ singles category.
Picking up medals is nothing new for the 15-year-old JCoss student from Edgware, though he described the landmark win in Georgia as his ‘biggest ever achievement’ and one that made him ‘really proud’.
And having made history, he followed that up at the weekend by winning two further WTT titles in Kosovo, claiming gold in both the Boys U15 Singles title and U15 Mixed Doubles – with Mongolian Khulan Khurelotgon – in Prishtina.
The trio of successes were the culmination of the past several months which has seen him add to his ever-increasing trophy haul.
He says: “I’ve had many highlights from the last few months, such as winning Table Tennis England’s first National Series U19 event and competing in the Senior British League’s Championship Division, where I came top of the averages with 100%. I’ve also recently represented my club eBaTT in the Premier Division of Junior British League where I also finished top of the averages.”
Sponsored by the Maccabi GB Brady Endowment Fund, Max is also quick – and keen – to thank those around him who have helped play their part in his success. “Everything I’ve won has all been made possible by my amazing coach Eli Baraty, along with the support I get from my parents and everyone at eBaTT, we are one big table tennis family!”, he says.
Putting in the hard yards and training to reach where he has in the sport, he goes training at eBaTT most days after school, and weekends when not playing tournaments. He says: “Eli always makes sure I have quality training partners which really helps, I’m also part of the Great Britain Training Squad where we train in Sheffield at the English Institute of Sport.
“It’s difficult balancing table tennis with my education at my mainstream school, but I somehow manage to do it and I feel very privileged that I get to travel and compete in so many countries.”
He didn’t travel as far during the early part of August, though did still help himself to three gold medals when he took part in The European Maccabi Youth Games, which were held in London. “I really enjoyed participating at the tournament and was delighted to win three gold medals in my home country for Team Maccabi GB.
“While the wins were great, the highlights of the Games for me were the atmosphere, the team camaraderie and making new friends from all over the world.
“It was a very special experience that I will never forget and I would love to take part in future European Games and Maccabiahs.”
In the more immediate future, he’s looking forward to participating once more in the European Youth Championships. He represented England last summer in Sweden in the Boys U15 Team, where we finished seventh out of 38 countries, the highest-ever finish by an England team at the event.
Hoping to be selected for England’s Boys U19 Team next year, he’s next flying out to Slovakia and Hungary for two more WTT events.
As to what he’s hoping to achieve next, he simply says: “My aim is to win another World Table Tennis title this year!”
