Orpington Table Tennis star James Smith picked up some good victories as he represented England at the Czech Youth Open in Hodonin.

The 15-year-old, who started playing the sport at the age of nine, was agonisingly eliminated from the Cadet Boys’ Singles in the group stages when, having won one of his first two matches, he lost to Martin Kysel in what was effectively a play-off for a place in the knockout stages.

The Whitgift School pupil was in a dominant position after winning the first two games, but his Slovakian opponent fought back and eventually edged out a 21-19 win in the deciding leg.

But Smith, who trains around 10 hours a week and once a month with the national squad, excelled in the consolation singles to reach the semi-finals.

His path included a fine 3-0 win against the high-ranked Bilal Selim Tok of Turkey.

In the doubles, Smith and partner Ethan Walsh won their first-round match 3-2 (7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8) against Slovenian pair Matija Novel & Rok Trtnik.

However, the England duo then ran into top seeds Patrik Juhasz of Hungary and Austrian Maciej Kolodzierjcyk in the last 16 and were comfortably beaten 3-0.

Smith held his own in the team event, winning his singles match and the doubles event alongside Walsh as England beat Slovenia B 3-0.

But defeat in their second group match against Hungary B, who came from 2-0 down to eventually triumph 3-2, ended England’s interest in the competition.

Smith, who experienced similar mixed fortunes during trips to Slovakia and Portugal in November, will now turn his attentions to the National Championship in April.