PAUL DRINKHALL will be targeting a Commonwealth gold medal when he spearheads a nine-strong England table tennis squad for October’s Games in Delhi.

Drinkhall, of Loftus, east Cleveland will be joined by Northallerton-born Daniel Reed in the men’s team that will travel to India, while Stockton’s Karina Le Fevre, 17, will be part of the women’s squad.

Drinkhall competed in the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, narrowly missing out on a medal in the men’s doubles as he finished fourth alongside Alan Cooke.

The 20-year-old, who learned his trade at Ormesby Table Tennis club, crashed out at the last-32 stage in the singles, and is determined to eradicate the memory of one of the most disappointing defeats of his career.

“I’m going to Delhi to win,”

said Drinkhall, who claimed a bronze medal in the men’s singles at last year’s Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow.

“Going to Melbourne, I hadn’t played against many of the players who were playing at the Commonwealth Games.

This time I’ve played against all of the top players who will be there and beaten them all, apart from one.”

Drinkhall will compete in the singles, doubles and team events in Delhi, and expects the Singapore team to be particularly tough to beat as they won six of the seven titles at the 2009 Commonwealth Championships, with the only other one, the men’s doubles, going to India.

India also ended England’s hopes of reaching the men’s team final, even though Drinkhall won both of his matches.

“We’ve got a strong team and I think we’re capable of beating everyone in the team competition, although Singapore will be difficult,” he said. “We can beat them all, we just have to perform on the day.”

The England team also includes Andrew Baggaley, who will be attempting to win a medal at his third Commonwealth Games in a row after winning gold in the men’s doubles and men’s team event in Manchester in 2002 and silver in the men’s doubles in Melbourne four years ago.