Paul Drinkhall
Loftus, Middlesbrough Paul Drinkhall
Loftus, MiddlesbroughBiography
Paul has been at the top level of the game for well over a decade, first coming to prominence as European champion at Junior level and as silver medallist at the World Junior Championships. His achievements made him twice runner-up in the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award.
In the senior ranks, Paul became the first English winner of a World Tour event since 1996 when he won the 2014 Spanish Open, and later that year he and wife Jo were on the top step of the mixed doubles podium at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Paul ended that year as Russian Open finalist and with a place at the ITTF Grand Finals.
The following year, he was beaten in the bronze medal match at the inaugural European Games, while in 2016 he won the World Team Championships bronze medal alongside Liam Pitchford and Sam Walker.
The trio, with David McBeath and Tom Jarvis also in the squad, then added Team World Cup bronze on home soil in 2018 at the Copper Box Arena on London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
He won a second Commonwealth Games gold at the 2018 edition of the Games in Australia, alongside Liam Pitchford in the Men’s Doubles, and in 2019, Paul became the first English player to win two World Tour events, winning the Serbia Open. His third Commonwealth gold medal was won in Men’s Doubles at Birmingham 2022 alongside Liam Pitchford, where he also won bronze in the team men’s event. At the same Games he narrowly missed winning bronze in the men’s singles.
Paul is one of only three players to have represented Team GB at three Olympic Games. At London 2012, he reached the last 32 in the singles while, at Rio 2016, he reached the last 16 of the singles and was part of the team which reached the quarter-finals. Paul qualified for his third Olympic Games in Tokyo, reaching the last 32 of the Men’s Singles.
Paul was elected to the ETTU Athletes’ Commission in 2018. He and Jo have a son, Dougie, and a daughter, Bonnie.
Major appearances and career highlights
| Commonwealth Games | Birmingham | 2022 | Men’s Doubles gold (with Liam Pitchford); Men’s Team bronze Men’s Singles fourth place |
| Olympic Games | Tokyo | 2020 (21) | Men’s Singles last 32 |
| Qatar Open | 2020 | Men’s Doubles silver (with Liam Pitchford) | |
| Serbia Open | 2019 | Men’s Singles champion | |
| Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast | 2018 | Men’s Doubles gold (with Liam Pitchford); Men’s Team bronze |
| ITTF Team World Cup | London | 2018 | Men’s Team bronze |
| Olympic Games | Rio | 2016 | Men’s Singles last 16; Men’s Team quarter-finals |
| ITTF World Team Championships | Kuala Lumpur | 2016 | Men’s Team bronze |
| Commonwealth Games | Glasgow | 2014 | Mixed Doubles gold (with Jo Drinkhall); Men’s Team silver |
| Spanish Open | 2014 | Men’s Singles champion | |
| Russian Open | 2014 | Men’s Singles silver | |
| Olympic Games | London | 2012 | Men’s Singles last 32; Men’s Team first round |
| Commonwealth Games | Delhi | 2010 | Men’s Team silver; Mixed Doubles bronze (with Jo Parker) |
| Commonwealth Games | Melbourne | 2006 | Men’s team 5th place |
Latest News
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Connor Green called into European Championships squad as Drinkhall pulls out
Connor Green gets his chance to shine at a senior major event for the first time after replacing Paul Drinkhall at the upcoming European Championships.
Paul Drinkhall beaten by Hong Kong opponent at WTT China Smash
Paul Drinkhall was knocked out of the China Smash by Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Hang in the first qualifying round.