Tom Jarvis spent eight days training with three of the world’s top five players in Japan as he aims to build on his rise into the top 50 in the world.

Jarvis joined the Japanese national team at their national centre in Tokyo for the training block in between competing at the WTT Star Contender in Brazil and the Europe Smash in Sweden.

But the air miles were very worthwhile as he trained in exalted company which also included Felix and Alexis Lebrun and Flavien Coton from France, and USA’s Kanak Jha, with whom Jarvis often works alongside coach Jorg Bitzigeio.

Wales and GB’s Anna Hursey, along with coach John Murphy, and Germany’s Nina Mittelham were also among those training.

For Jarvis, it was a chance to get on the table with Japanese duo Sora Matsushima and Tomokazu Harimoto, as well as Felix Lebrun, who are all in the top five in the world at the moment.

Jarvis has climbed from outside the world’s top 150 to a career high of 41 in the past 18 months and was at No 43 as the Europe Smash got under way.

“It was a great group and to be in the hall and train with three of the world’s top five and get to see what they’re doing and why they’re so good – and what you need to work on.

“I’d been to Japan before – I was there for three weeks during the Olympics in 2021 – but I’d never been to the national centre before.

“It’s extremely good – they have loads of sports there and everything you need from a hotel to the gym, and the hall was amazing. You can see why they’re so good.

“It’s pretty unbelievable how good the top 10 are, and you obviously know there’s still a lot to improve on and a lot of work to get to that level. I’m still relatively new to the top 50, so there’s a long way to go.”