CHARLOTTE Carey has her sights fixed firmly on the next Olympic Games after making history by becoming the first table tennis player from Wales to enter the world’s top 100.

The 22-year-old, who has represented her country at the last three Commonwealth Games, was number 101 for two months before finally climbing to 98 in the latest rankings.

It’s something of a watershed moment for the Ebbw Vale left-hander, who rose to prominence when she made the Wales team for Delhi 2010 aged just 14.

And Carey, ranked 685th in the world in 2011, knows that if she can keep moving up the International Table Tennis Federation standings then Tokyo 2020 could be on the horizon.

“I was 101 for two months which was painful, it was killing me,” she said.

“I actually thought I’d go down in the latest rankings because I hadn’t played an event since May.

“But I guess a few people dropped out of the top 100 and luckily I moved up.

“My aim now is to go as high as I can and make the team for the Olympics in Tokyo.”

She added: “To keep moving up the rankings you have to play in lots of events, and that’s the hard part.

“But if you can and you reach a certain round in that event you pick up bonus points which go towards your ranking.

“So it basically comes down to being able to play in as many competitions as possible and reaching the last 16.”

Carey is only three places behind England’s Tin Tin Ho, the leading British player in the women’s world rankings, while Tredegar’s Chloe Thomas is 324th and Rhymney’s Beth Roberts is 598th.

The Bulgaria Open and Czech Open are next on Carey’s agenda after leading some training camps in Cork and Belfast and then a well-earned holiday.

Looking further ahead to September and the European Championships in Alicante, Spain will see Carey partner two-time Olympian Paul Drinkhall in the mixed doubles.

“We haven’t played together yet but Paul has got a training camp in Copenhagen in August so I’ll be going there,” added Carey.

“He’s been to London 2012 and Rio 2016 so it should be really good to play with him and hopefully do well.”

August will also see Sweden-based Carey, a multiple national champion, return to action for her German club side ESV Weil.