Table tennis: Paul Drinkhall, from Middlesbrough, became the European under-15 singles champion by defeating Darius Knight, from London — who will be familiar to readers of The Times as the youngster who played in a garden shed because he could not afford to hire adequate facilities — in straight games yesterday.

Earlier, the pair had combined to win the gold medal in the team event, the first time in the 40-year history of the European Youth Championships that England have won both the team and singles titles.

Ainslie edged out

Sailing: Ben Ainslie came close to his first big win on the international match-racing circuit yesterday when he finished runner-up to Peter Holmberg, of Team Alinghi, in the Portugal Match Cup at Cascais. The Briton and his Emirates Team New Zealand crew lost the best-of-five final 3-1, Holmberg clinching the fourth heat after executing a penalty turn on the finish line.

King Arthur

Boxing: Alex Arthur gave as complete a display as has been seen in a British ring for many years to win the European super-featherweight title with an overwhelming points victory over Boris Sinitsin in Edinburgh on Saturday night. The Scot could have a world title bout within the next 12 months against Scott Harrison, the WBO featherweight champion.

Purchase power

Rowing: Ten Great Britain crews reached yesterday’s finals of the under-23 World Championships in Amsterdam, winning two golds, two silvers and a bronze. The golds came from the efforts of Hester Goodsell and Zac Purchase, the lightweights who have raced at senior level this year.

England miss out

Polo: England were pipped in a thrilling finale as they went down 8-7 to Australia on Cartier International Polo Day at Guards Polo Club. They began with a goal-handicap advantage, but after six minutes of extra time, Ruki Bayllieu scored the winner.

Gold for Greene

Snooker: Gerard Greene, the world No 39 from Northern Ireland, won the snooker event in the World Games in Duisburg, Germany, yesterday, surprisingly beating Ding Junhui, winner of the China Open in April, 4-3 to claim the gold medal.

Double delight

Netball: England made a bright start in the under-21 World Championship, thrashing Fiji 56-21 and Samoa 62-24 in Fort Lauderdale. They play Barbados today with a place in the next stage a formality.