Sibley misses out on treble and has to be content with doubles

Kelly Sibley in action at the PG Mutual National Championships. Pictures: Alan Man

Sibley and partner Maria Tsaptsinos overcame Ho and Denise Payet in the women’s doubles final at the Copper Box Arena, triumphing 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-7).

Sibley, who will compete for England at the Commonwealth Games next month, reached all three finals for which she was eligible, but was defeated in the other two.

Ho overcame her 4-1 (6-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8) in a close tussle in the women’s singles - the same outcome as in the previous two years.

Kelly Sibley and Maria Tsaptsinos celebrate their doubles win.

And in the mixed doubles, Sibley and David McBeath saw opponents Liam Pitchford and Ho save one match point in the fourth game and three from 10-7 down in the fifth on their way to a 3-2 (11-9, 6-11, 8-11, 14-12, 12-10) victory.

Nevertheless, Sibley feels her game is in good order ahead of the Commonwealths in Gold Coast, Australia.

She said: “I feel I’m playing well. I felt strong and I was timing the ball really well. I always knew the final was going to be tough but I went in for the first time in a lot of years feeling that the pressure wasn’t on me in the final.

“Hats off to her, she coped really well with that pressure and she’s as quick as a whippet. I’m disappointed, but I’m feeling very positive about my game and that my table tennis is going in the right direction for Gold Coast.

“Women’s doubles was a very good performance from us, me and Maria seem to gel well as a pair. In the mixed, we didn’t do much wrong, they just played really well at the end.

“Again, feeling very positive for the Commonwealths.”