Table tennis: Great Britain's Paul Drinkhall targets Rio Olympics after exit

Great Britain’s Paul Drinkhall was knocked out of the singles in London yesterday (Getty Images)

Great Britain's Paul Drinkhall immediately set himself the target of qualifying by right for the next Olympic Games after being knocked out of the singles in London yesterday.

The 22-year-old has thrilled crowds over the last two days, with Sunday's shock victory over Singapore's Yang Zi one he will savour. But Drinkhall slipped out at the third-round stage. He struggled to cope with German world No 12 Dimitrij Ovtcharov and lost 4-0, the German taking the games 11-8, 11-5, 11-9, 11-4.

Drinkhall's Games is not over, however, with the team event set to begin on Friday, when he will be joined by Liam Pitchford and Andrew Baggaley.

Having had to utilise a host nation spot after failing to qualify off his own back for London, Drinkhall insists work for a place at Rio in four years' time will begin immediately. "Here and in the past, I have proved I can compete with the best players," he said. "I have beaten some top players."