11-year-old table tennis player loses at Commonwealth Games

Published Apr. 10, 2018 8:22 p.m. ET

GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) See you in Birmingham.

Eleven-year-old Welsh table tennis prodigy Anna Hursey bowed out of the Commonwealth Games women's singles event on Tuesday but not before confirming her precocious talent.

Hursey took just 17 minutes to win her first singles match, but then lost in the second round in straight sets to Malaysia's Li Sian Alice Chang.

She had already competed in the team's event earlier this week, winning twice and showing some powerful forehands and composure.

Hursey, chaperoned by her mother Phoebe at these games, started playing table tennis at the age of 5 and is believed to be the youngest athlete to represent Wales at a senior level.

Chang praised Hursey.

''I felt a bit of pressure ahead of playing her but I made my preparations to help me in my match,'' Chang said. ''She is a good player and she's still young, so she will improve.''

Wales No. 1 player Charlotte Carey said Hursey was impressive.

''I just felt really proud (of her). This won't be her first Commonwealth Games ... we will be seeing a lot more of her,'' Carey said.

The next Commonwealth Games are in Birmingham, England in 2022.