Table Tennis: Prean tackles tough return

CARL PREAN, the national champion who has has recovered from a career-threatening injury, plays Jean Michel Saive, the world and European silver medallist, in a televised match at Leeds tonight, writes James Leigh.

Prean, fit again after a wrist operation and five months out of action, faces Saive in the first of two contests between England and Belgium. The second, at Peterborough tomorrow, will have Matthew Syed in action. The Oxford University student won the Peniel Five-Star international open at Brentwood last month and the first prize at the Sears International in Chicago last week.

Prean lines up tonight alongside Chen Xinhua, the England No 1 and Lisa Lomas, the European silver medal winner, while Syed will team up with Lomas and Alan Cooke, the former Commonwealth champion.