Anna Hursey has become the first Welsh table tennis player to qualify for the Olympic Games – and the first GB player to book a place in Paris.

17-year-old Hursey claimed one of the five places available via the European Singles Qualification Tournament in Sarajevo.

Having reached the semi-finals of the first of two knockout stages, Hursey knew a win on Saturday against world No 66 Georgina Pota of Hungary would see her qualify.

Hursey, who came from 3-0 down to win 4-3 in her quarter-final against Tatiana Kukulkova on Friday, was this time in more control as she won 4-1 (11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4) to confirm qualification.

Hursey, currently ranked No 98 in the world, said: “I’m really happy to qualify. I was a bit nervous but also excited before the final match. I tried to take the pressure off and play my game but I felt there wasn’t so much pressure because I’m still really young. I played very well.”

Hursey is only the third female GB athlete to seal a place through the continental qualifying tournament and the first since 1992, when Lisa Lomas and Alison Gordon did so to earn their places at the Barcelona Games.

Tin-Tin Ho, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics by virtue of her world ranking, was unable to join Hursey in securing her place in Paris. The world No 168 also had a good tournament which began with her defeating third seed and world No 60 Maria Xiao of Spain 4-1 in the group stage.

She went on to reach the quarter-finals, narrowly losing 4-3 (7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 13-15, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9) to Britt Eerland, the world No 74 from the Netherlands – who also went on to qualify.

In the second knockout stage, Ho was defeated in her first match by world No 75 Margaryta Pesotska of Ukraine, the score 4-0 (14-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-3).

In the Men’s Singles, world No 92 Paul Drinkhall had a superb 4-3 (9-11, 11-8, 10-12, 12-10, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6) victory over Daniel Habesohn (WR 56) of Austria in his first match in the second knockout stage. He went out in his next match, 4-3 (9-11, 9-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8) to Yaroslav Zhumdenko of Ukraine, ranked at 187.

Liam Pitchford, who is currently ranked 38, is likely to qualify for Paris based on his world ranking for what would be his fourth Games. Ho and Drinkhall will have to wait to see if they make the cut based on rankings next month.