WATCH: Perth glory sees Flaws bag third senior title

Decorated isles athlete Lynda Flaws has added a third national championship to her cabinet following a success in Perth yesterday.

Speaking after yesterday’s tournament the table tennis star said she was delighted to halt a dry spell which had seen her go four years without winning the national title.

But Flaws did not make it easy for herself. A loss in her first group game meant she drew a tough route to the final.

After going two sets ahead of Faye Leggett in her opening match Flaws capitulated, eventually losing 3-2.

This performance, however, seemed to kick-start a run of form for Flaws which would eventually see her face Leggett again in the final – where she would get revenge for her Leggett’s comeback.

After winning her second group game Flaws went on to topple last year’s champion Rebecca Plaistow in the quarter finals by three sets to nil.

This was followed by another shut-out victory in the semis, this time over Gillian Edwards, a player Flaws admits she “usually struggles against”.

Seemingly hitting a rich vein of form at just the right time Flaws faced off against Leggett for a second time. But on this occasion she was determined to avenge the defeat in the group stages.

“I wasn’t going to lose to her twice in one day”, Flaws said.

Again the local star took an early lead, sailing three sets ahead in a best of seven final. But in the fourth set Leggett pulled one back.

Flaws quickly quashed any fears that Leggett was once again about snatch victory from the jaws of defeat winning the fifth set and the title.

 

Speaking the following day Flaws said: “In the last few years I’ve been a bit disappointed with the way the nationals have gone.

“I think just at the moment, focusing on my studies and my career, it’s been more difficult than it has been. This felt like the best win for me.”

Now studying a physiotherapy masters in Glasgow, Flaws is currently spending five days a week on placement and her weekends working part-time.

Finding time to train has become increasingly difficult but this year she has found her form again, also winning the Scottish University’s title earlier this year.

“This season I’ve been pretty happy with how I’ve done,” she said.

“I’ve been playing as good as I have been in a long time, possibly even ever.”

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