WHILE Welsh table tennis star Chloe Thomas’s World University Games did not end with a podium finish, the 23-year-old believes the learning curve the tournament provided will make her a stronger player.

The Abergavenny-born player was drawn against tough opposition in Chinese Taipei, last month, but held her own both individually and as part of a team.

She reached the last 32 of the women’s singles after beating Argentine Yessica Natalia Sierpe Gomez and Rossalean To of Australia, before being defeated by South Korea’s Eunhye Lee.

She was part of the women’s team which beat Mongolia, but lost against hosts and eventual semi-finalists Chinese Taipei, and Czech Republic. Thomas and Maria Tsaptsinos were also defeated in the women’s doubles by German pair Yvonne Kaiser and Yuko Imamura.

Despite the outcome, Thomas, who has moved to China to focus on her game in the hope of being selected for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, is in no doubt her time in the Far East will mould her into a more rounded player.

“It was always going to be tough matches but I was happy with my performance and learnt a lot,” said the Bournemouth University graduate, a 2016 BUCS women’s champion.

“There were moments where I could have been better, mainly mentally, for example against Czech Republic.

“I had a slow start and made it a lot harder for myself to get into a rhythm and ended up playing catch up, so it just wasn't good enough on my behalf.”

The 2017 WUGs – the largest multi-sport event outside the Olympic Games – saw Team GB’s final medal tally total three silver and six bronze across four different sports, seeing them finish an overall 45th on the medal table.

And Thomas waxed lyrical about the vibrancy and diverse atmosphere of the event, which she said will live long in the memory.

“I loved the overall experience, from seeing and meeting people from all over the world in one place, people getting along at the games room or singing on the buses,” she added.

“All the past games I have been to have been a unique experience, and have their own way of imprinting new and amazing memories.

“For me Taipei showed how welcoming, warm, generous and lively it is. From the volunteers who would do anything for you, to the public who were always cheering and wanting to welcome us.

“Everything I experienced was positive and overall couldn't be happier with the tournament.”

British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the national governing body for Higher Education (HE) sport in the UK, organising leagues, competitions and international representative teams for more than 150 institutions across 52 sports. Over 110 athletes will represent GB at the 29th World University Games (Summer Universiade) in Chinese Taipei, 19-30 August.