COMBER TABLE TENNIS STAR MAKES HISTORY WITH CALL-UP
A COMBER table tennis star has been selected to represent Ireland at the FISU World University Games in Germany.
Nineteen year-old Ben Watson, a former pupil of Andrews Memorial Primary School and Grosvenor Grammar School, is currently in his first year at Queen’s University Belfast. His selection comes after a sensational season both at university and national level.
Watson played a central role in Queen’s dramatic Intervarsities win over UCD earlier this year — their first victory in 26 years. He went unbeaten across all 12 of his matches and, alongside teammate Daniel Irwin, sealed the title in a nail-biting final doubles match, edging UCD 8-7 in the fifth set.
Beyond university competition, Watson’s dominance continued on the national stage. He claimed the U19 Connacht Open title, was near-flawless in the Junior British Clubs League — winning 19 of 20 matches — and delivered crucial performances in the Senior British League, helping his team avoid relegation.
By the end of the season, Watson had climbed to the top of Ireland’s junior rankings, confirming his status as one of the country’s brightest emerging talents.
To prepare for the Games, which take place July 16-25 in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany, Watson has competed in the European Youth Championships in Ostrava and completed a high-intensity training camp in Kinsale.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Watson said it’s a huge honour to be part of Ireland’s first ever table tennis team at the World University Games.
“I’m grateful for all the support from Queen’s, local businesses, my coaches and teammates, and I’m looking forward to testing myself against some of the best university players in the world,” he said.
The World University Games will feature over 8,500 athletes and officials from around 150 nations, competing in 18 sports across six host cities and 23 venues.
