And those high expectations were met at Homebush a fortnight ago when he won the over-80 New South Wales Veterans Open championship title.

He could have also claimed the over-75 title on the same day as well, but he was beaten in the final.

“I probably played about 12 matches and won all bar one – the final,” Sands said.

“I played two age brackets.

“In the over-80 I won and the over-75s I lost the final to the guy who won the world championship a couple of years ago.”

Sands said he usually competed in two different age brackets at most championship events.

His success at the table tennis table can be traced back to the practice he received from a young age.

“I started when I was 15,” he said.

“When I first went to work they used to have a table tennis table there and they used to play in the morning tea time, lunchtime and after work.

“That’s how I came to start.”

Asked whether he surprised himself at claiming the NSW Veterans title, Sands said he was confident of a good showing.

He had previously won Australian titles and a “couple of New Zealand opens”.

“I’m expected to win; I set high expectations of myself,” he said.

The veteran continued his recent run of success.

Last year, Sands defended his title in the NSW Veterans Closed Championships where he won both the over-75 and over-80 men’s singles.