Scottish trio eye Commonwealth Games qualification

SCOTLAND'S Craig Howieson insists he is able to justify his tag as the rising star of Scottish table tennis at the European Championships in Stuttgart.

Howieson - ranked 750th in the world - will compete in the singles and team events with Scottish team-mates Stewart Crawford and Gavin Rumgay.

The 19-year-old won his group at May's Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow before bowing out to English number two Darius Knight.

Rumgay is Scotland's main hope as the nation's number one and world number 256 - but the trio face stern tests in the team competition against Turkey, Norway and Switzerland.

But all three players will be looking to impress with the results of the European Championships determining which, if any, Scottish players are selected for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

And Howieson admits the European Championships provide the perfect opportunity for him to prove himself.

‘'This competition is absolutely vital in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games," said Howieson.  

"My current ranking is about 750 but I am regularly beating players between 450 and 500 in the world.

‘'We don't want to just qualify and send a full team, we want a medal and that means beating good teams and players in Stuttgart.

‘'We did well in Glasgow in May but we have to keep that going. It's my first senior European championships and I am delighted to be going.''