Syed fails in Olympic bid

Table tennis

Matthew Syed saw his bid to qualify for this summer's Olympic Games in Atlanta end in Manchester yesterday. England's No 1 lost a dramatic final match in the European Olympic qualifying tournament 23-21, 21-18, 15-21, 20-22, 21-19 to the 19-year-old Hungarian Zoltan Batorfi.

"When I was 11 up in the fifth game I felt sure I could do it," Syed said, "but luck was against me as he got five lucky points."

Lisa Lomas, England's No 2, will be going to the Olympics after completing three qualifying stages with eight victories. The heavy programme took its toll on Alison Broe and Andrea Holt, who both picked up injuries on their way to failing to qualify.