SHROPSHIRE TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION
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NEWS ITEM 24 - 06/03/09
BACK TO NEWS PAGEAlex Edmonds (16) from Oswestry in Shropshire was presented with the Young Male Achiever of the Year Award at the 2009 npower Disability Sports Awards.
Despite having no toes, restricted fingers and a curvature of the spine, Alex has competed at international level in athletics and is recognised as a formidable table tennis and badminton player. In the past year he has won two gold medals and one silver at the National Badminton competition and bronze at the National Table Tennis competition. This is the second consecutive year that Alex's achievements have impressed the awards selection panel; last year he was nominated for the award but was narrowly pipped to the post. The 2009 awards proved to be Alex's night. Val Hanover, who entered Alex for the award, says: “He has developed his own way of holding a bat and racket and has become an excellent player in both sports. He is an inspiration to other athletes and puts his whole soul into the game.” When asked by host, Setanta Sport's presenter, Matt Teale, who he would like to mention, the young athlete, who has autism, said he'd like to thank his parents for all their support. The 2009 ceremony was held at Aston Villa Football Club, Birmingham. In addition to the 30 talented and high-achieving nominees, Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe MP and around 20 Paralympians, including medallists Sascha Kindred, Nyree Lewis, Nigel Murray and Lee Pearson, attended the gala evening. Kevin Rodgers, community involvement executive for sponsors, npower, comments: “Alex was nominated last year and it is great to see that his achievements in 2008 have resulted in recognition this year“. The event was organised by the English Federation of Disability Sports. Over the past few years, the awards evening has grown in both stature and recognition. Dennis Hodgkins, regional development manager at the EFDS, comments, “Having the Sports Minister and 20 Paralympians with us recognises the achievements of our disabled athletes and gave us an opportunity to celebrate across the board – from grass roots right through to international level.”
