A teenager from has proved the use of long term legal aid by making it to the Commonwealth Games.
Kelly Sibley, 17, from Lillington, has harboured dreams of becoming an international table tennis player since she launched her competitive career at the age of 10.
Leading Leamington law firm, Wright Hassall, of Clarendon Place, recognised Kelly’s prodigious talent when she was 11 years old and have been sponsoring her ever since.
Her call-up means that in March 2006 the world number 43 will appear in front of a crowd of 120,000 people in Melbourne, Australia when she parades with her team mates.
Kelly has generated a keen following since she was spotted by a national coach from the English Table Tennis Association (ETTA) at the age of eight and is being hotly tipped as a medal hope for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Kelly said she is very grateful for the help Wright Hassall have given her as it has helped to maintain her confidence as a player.
She said: “Because so many people have supported me over the years I have never had a reason to doubt my ability.
“I have been sponsored by Wright Hassall for over six years and throughout that time they have helped to pay my expenses.
“I think that I would have really struggled without their help and encouragement.”
Peter Beddoes, managing partner at Wright Hassall, said that due to Kelly’s success the company was inspired to sponsor other precocious youngsters.
He said: “We have been tracking Kelly’s career over the years and are very proud of her achievements.
“She is considered to be among the leading young competitors in the world and is earmarked for Olympic glory in 2012.
“At the age of 15 she was the youngest person ever to play in the senior side for the European Championships and this year she became the first girl to have won the mixed, doubles and singles titles at the Junior Nationals in Doncaster.
“Our other young protégés are Naomi Folkard (22), from Leamington , who was chosen to represent GBR as part of the women’s archery team in Athens 2004 and Ashley Cramond, a rising star in the world of golf at the tender age of 10.”
Kelly’s bid for Commonwealth glory was strengthened when she played a superb unbeaten sequence for the ladies’ side at a European Championships qualifier in Bulgaria.
