Baggaley takes third national title in Sheffield

ANDREW Baggaley overcame Liam Pitchford in a closely fought game to take his third English National Championships title in Sheffield.

The double Commonwealth champion needed all seven sets to get the better of 16-year-old Pitchford eventually coming through 11-5, 7-11, 7-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8.

The teenager looked like he had the better of 27-year-old Baggaley as he took a lead of 3-1 but could not hold on as Baggaley took the final three sets.

Baggaley, who plays professionally in the Spanish Super League for DKV Borges, added the title to the two he had won in 2002 and 2008.

Baggaley's ITTF world ranking has dropped recently to 195 but he has chosen to miss a number of events where he could have earned points and he will be one of Great Britain's main medal hopes in table tennis at London 2012.

Meanwhile, Joanna Parker won her second successive women's title defeating Kelly Sibley in a rerun of the 2008 final where Sibley had triumphed.

The 22-year-old came through 13-11, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11, 11-5 at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre.