David McBeath is confident Team England’s table tennis team can win gold at the Commonwealth Games - after winning his first senior title.

The former Mountbatten schoolboy partnered his England teammate Paul Drinkhall in winning the men’s doubles at the PG Mutual National Championships last month.

They beat the other two members of England’s Commonwealth Games squad, Liam Pitchford & Sam Walker 3-1 (11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-1) in the final at London’s Copper Box Arena.

McBeath usually plays alongside Walker, but the combinations were changed to help prepare for the Commonwealths team event, which gets underway on Australia's Gold Coast today.

The 25 year-old, who first played table tennis aged nine at Nursling Primary School, said: “It’s the biggest tournament of my career, I’m really excited to be going to a multi-sport event for the national team.

“Last time they took five players and I was number seven.

“I’m one of four this time and I’m really happy with that.”

McBeath’s England teammates won bronze at the International Tennis Federation World Cup in February, after Drinkhall, Walker and Pitchford lost their semi-final to China, also at the Copper Box Arena.

“The competition will be slightly weaker at the Commonwealths so I think we can win gold,” continued McBeath.

“We’re in a good place and should be amongst the favourites.”

McBeath also beat defending champion Drinkhall 4-1 (11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7) in the men’s singles at the national championships.

And he was a runner-up in the mixed doubles with Kelly Sibley (after Pitchford & Tin-Tin Ho saved four match points in the final).

After winning alongside Drinkhall, McBeath said: “Obviously I’m really happy to get my first senior nationals title. I had match points earlier to try to win the mixed doubles, but Liam and Tin-Tin played really well.

“Paul was a big help in the men’s, It was his tenth men’s doubles title so he’s got a lot of experience.”

McBeath, who was in the same men’s singles qualifying group as Drinkhall at a World Tour Event in Qatar this week, is currently ranked 160 in the world - but his goal is to make the top 100.

Originally from Rownhams, he also played tennis, squash and football and joined Southampton West Club in Millbrook before moving to Waterside Table Tennis club in Totton.

He first played for England at U13 and U15 level and has spent the last five years as a professional in Germany and Sweden, where he is based.