In recent weeks, the young table tennis player has become the first Tarn player to become French numbered without ever having left his original department. He will play his first National 2 meeting with Albi this Saturday February 7 against Salindres.
At 19 years old, Louis Delpech, licensed at ASPTT Albi, has just reached a symbolic milestone by becoming numbered. In other words, it has entered the French top 1000. All while being a centerpiece of the rise of its flagship team to Nationale 2. A unique journey, built without haste and without leaving its department.
A native of Albi, he discovered table tennis at a very young age while accompanying his father, himself a player. At the age of 7, he took his first license at Table Tennis Pays Gaillac (TTPG), where he trained for eight seasons, notably alongside Vincent Royer. Quickly attracted by the competition, he climbed the ranks to Regional 2.
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In 2022, then aged 16, he joined ASPTT Albi in order to continue his progress. “He had just had a great season with Gaillac, he had even become number one at the club. He wanted to play in Regional 1 and train with stronger players,” explains his coach Hervé Saint-Pol, employee of the Albigensian club.
“This accession has completely re-motivated him”
The adaptation is rapid, the team reaches the Pre-National, before experiencing a more delicate period. “His development was no longer really there and the team was also stagnating,” admits the technician. The rise to Nationale 3, at the end of last season, will however revive the dynamic. “This accession has completely re-motivated him.” With the arrival of two star recruits, it regains momentum. Since September, he has had a string of performances and climbed the rankings, reaching the symbolic mark of the top 1000 French players.
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A striking threshold for a player with an atypical background. “He is the first to reach this level without ever having played anywhere other than in Tarn,” underlines Saint-Pol (the second Tarn number, Maxime Mlinaric, also trained at TTPG, now plays in Pins-Justaret, editor’s note). Approached on several occasions by sports-study structures, he has always chosen to remain faithful to his territory. “He built himself up little by little. He knew that the pace of these centers was not necessarily made for him.” At the table, his profile contrasts with that of pure attackers. “Louis is more nuanced. He likes the opponent to take the initiative and he appreciates long rallies,” describes his coach.
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At only 19 years old, Louis Delpech continues to advance, and will play his first N2 match this Saturday, February 7, at 4 p.m., at the Caussels gymnasium, against AS Salindres.
