When teenager Josh Asbury represents his county at the Butterfly Schools National Individual Finals this month, it will mark a big step on an inspirational journey.
The finals come just over a year after Josh rang the ceremonial bell at Worcester Royal Hospital to signal the end of his cancer treatment.
It was while recovering from the effects of chemotherapy that he started playing table tennis and, helped by coaches at Littleton Table Tennis Club in Evesham, he made rapid progress.
Playing for Blackminster Middle School, he was part of the 2023 U11 Boys’ and 2024 U13 Boys’ teams which were Worcestershire Schools champions. Earlier this year, Josh won the individual Worcestershire Schools U13 Boys’ Tournament to qualify for the national finals.
Josh, now aged 13, was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma in 2021 after suffering from what was initially thought to be long Covid.
Formerly a very active young sportsman, the chemotherapy was so tiring that he sometimes had to use a wheelchair. It was while getting back on his feet, and worried that he was too weak to go back to one of this previous sports, that he tried out table tennis.
“I went to a Blackminster School open evening and I was just starting to walk again and I wanted to try a new sport instead of football because I was just transitioning out of my wheelchair,” said Josh.
“Ken (Baker) was there, who’s one of my coaches now, he was using a robot and taught me how to use the bat and how to play. I really enjoyed it, so I stuck with it.
“I was invited to Littleton Table Tennis Club and from there I’ve just been trying to work my way up with fitness and confidence.
“I wanted to pick up a new sport, and I found table tennis, and I’m glad I chose it because it’s been so much help to me. I’m so glad I took this sport up.”
Josh describes how his confidence grew throughout the county event he won in January, where he showed great courage to come through a tough final, beating Jonah Brown of Bishop’s Perowne College 3-1 (11-7, 4-11, 13-11, 16-14).
Along with his winner’s trophy, Josh was awarded Worcestershire County Schools Junior Player of the Tournament for his outstanding determination and brilliant play.
“I felt so happy because I played against a really good player at the end of my games, and he put up a good match,” said Josh. “I was really shocked that I won the tournament because I’ve never got that big of a trophy before. It felt such a big achievement.”
His mum Heather added: “It was like a symbol of how far he’s come, because we’ve been to tournaments where Josh’s literally had chemo and two days later we’re at a tournament and he’s working his little socks off and having to quickly nip out to be sick and then go back in.
“He just doesn’t give up, he’s a real trooper.”
John McKay, another of the coaches at Littleton, said of Josh: “During his ongoing treatment his determination to improve his table tennis and his dedication to training was astonishing. At times he pushed himself to a standstill because he did not want to let his coaches or teammates down.
“His journey during his battle to beat cancer, and how table tennis was a factor in helping his recovery, is inspiring.”
When Josh completed his treatment, he had a table tennis-themed party and cake at the hospital, and the nurses wrote motivational messages to him on table tennis balls.
The family has bought an outdoor table for the hospital so that future patients can enjoy the sport as well.
Josh says he can’t wait for the national finals at WV Active in Wolverhampton on Saturday 25 April – and he also has big ambitions for the future.
“It’s a very big ambition, but I really want to get to the Olympics,” he said. “But I don’t mind if I’m a bit below the Olympics if at least I’ve got to a high level.”
