At just 12-years-old, Belfast girl Emily Flynn is a champion in her own right.
After picking up a table tennis bat just two and a half years ago, she is now the U13 Ulster champion.
And this weekend she is off to Dublin to take on the best in her age group.
Emily, from East Belfast , said: "I was handed a table tennis bat when I was 10 years old at Strandtown Primary School and I had a go and really liked it.
"I managed to be made the Ulster Primary School champion about three months later and things have just gone on from there.
"Table tennis just seems to work for me and I enjoy playing the game and competing.
"I do practise a lot and three weeks ago I was made U13 Champion."
Now Emily is being tipped to have a stellar career ahead of her in the sport.
And she is fortunate to have family support which allows her to attend specialist training camps for her in England with top coaches.
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While she is at home, the youngster trains along with her father John in a large tent in their back garden on a full-sized professional competition table.
On Sunday, Emily who attends Bloomfield Collegiate School , will travel to Dublin to do sporting battle against the U13 Irish squad.
Her dad John said: "It was remarkable to see Emily change from a little girl who had never played table tennis into a sporting champion. After just two and a half years playing this sport, she has reached the top of her age group.
"She loves the game, she practises hard, she's a good competitor and she knows losing and winning are all part of it.
"As her dad I'm filled with pride for her attitude, hard work and skill and I hope she continues to enjoy her game and succeed.
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"She gets on really well with the girls she is playing against in Dublin at the weekend and that makes for a lovely atmosphere - fair play, determination, support and always the right attitude whether they win or lose. It's a great sport and a good rehearsal for later life."
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