England table tennis ace Hannah Hicks was part of the England squad that missed out on promotion at the European Team Championships in Lisbon.

Both the men’s and women’s teams had high hopes of finishing in 17th place – which would have seen them win the Challenge Division and seal promotion to the Championship Division.

Such a feat would also have sealed qualification for the inaugural European Games in Baku next summer.

Both won their groups to move into the play-off stages, but respective defeats in their opening play-off matches condemned them to remain in the second tier, with the women ending in 21st place and the men in 23rd.

Hicks, 23, featured in every match and won five out of six games.

The Leckford player said: “Personally, it’s been OK. I’ve won the matches I should have won.

“I’m a little bit upset I lost my last match as it would have been nice to be undefeated.”