TOP table tennis player Andrew Rushton waited 32 years for his first world title – and he is eager to follow it up with another.

The former Walkden High School pupil, who started out in the sport playing for Farnworth Social Circle in the Bolton League, claimed victory at the world hard bat team championships last month.

He partnered Chris Doran, of Northampton, in the victorious England team, winning every one of his six matches on the way to the title.

They beat home favourites Holland in the final of the tournament, which was played in Hilversum on December 26 and 27.

“I have been working towards this my whole career,” said Rushton, who won a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in the traditional form of the sport.

“Ever since I was a lad I dreamed of being world champion.

“It is an amazing feeling to know that all of the hard work has paid off.

“Now that I have the team title in the bag I will be going all out to win the individual crown.”

Rushton will next head to Alexandra Palace in London for the wonderfully titled World Championships of Ping Pong.

The event, which runs from Friday to Sunday, January 22-24, is promoted by Barry Hearn’s Matchroom Sport company and televised live on Sky Sports.

Hearn set up the hard bat tournament four years ago in a bid to revitalise the sport and repackage it for the masses.

Competitors use traditional sandpaper rackets, without the rubbers used on modern rackets, which eliminates the heavy spin modern table tennis players can generate.

The outcome is fast and furious, with the emphasis on speed, skill and shot-making. Most points are settled after long, exciting rallies.

Rushton, who won the national under-21s championships three times and claimed the senior British title in 2009 and 2010 before retiring from mainstream international table tennis, has really taken to the new form of the game.

He was beaten by Maxim Shrymev in the semi-finals of the World Championships of Ping Pong in 2014 and was knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual champion Andrew Baggaley last year.

“My goal is to reach the final for the first time this year and then after that, who knows?” said Rushton, who grew up in Walkden but now lives in Stockport with fiancée Karen and four-year-old son Jack.

“It is such an exciting tournament to be involved in. The crowd are right on top of you and the atmosphere at Ally Pally is always amazing. To win there is the pinnacle for me now.”

Rushton is ranked sixth in the world and will be seeded six at the tournament in a field of 64 players.

The tournament takes place over three sessions, with a double elimination group stage featuring eight groups played out on eight tables on the Friday evening before the last 32 enter a knockout stage played across two tables on the Saturday evening.

The destination of the winner’s trophy will be decided on the Sunday, which will include the quarter-finals and semis as well as the final.

Tickets are on sale now at www.seetickets.com priced £15 per session for adults (£10 concessions), with a season ticket allowing entry to all three sessions for £37.50 (£25 concessions). There is also a special kids go free offer.

Sky Sports will show live coverage, with each session taking place between 6-10.30pm.