2023-09-22 18:27:09
The temptation was great to talk about it. To discuss the future “so British” and royal meeting. But, until the end, the nevertheless so loquacious and outspoken Jean-Claude Molet respected the confidentiality agreement and secrecy. 57 years after exchanging a few words with Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin – the first man to have flown into space – during a tour with the French table tennis team, the person concerned was able to share some moments with King Charles III, Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron on Thursday during their visit to Saint-Denis.
An “honor”, a “privilege”, that the president of the Saint-Denis tennis section owes to his young phenomenon player Prithika Pavade, 19 years old. Already present at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the world number 40 is on track to qualify for those in Paris next summer.
“The British embassy approached the mayor of Saint-Denis, Mr. Hanotin, a few days ago to suggest that young sportspeople from the city be present during the visit of the King and Queen,” says Jean -Claude Molet. There were boxing, rugby and table tennis workshops inside the Legion of Honor room then a football workshop with the PSG Foundation outside. He immediately thought of Prithika for table tennis. She has been at the club for 9 years, she has won everything in the youth categories in France and she is a very popular local personality. »
If the strong man of ping in Saint-Denis gives his agreement, he does not dare to speak about it to the main interested party. “She was playing in the Euro in Sweden, I didn’t want to disturb her,” he explains. The British embassy contacted me regularly but I didn’t want to bother them. » The president will wait until the end of the competition, last Saturday (September 16), to send a message to his player. He then congratulates her on her journey – concluded with a bronze medal – and explains the request to her. “She was very happy,” says Molet. We were lucky because for months she has been participating in tournaments all over the world – Peru, Brazil, Kazakhstan… – but this week she was in France. »
Arriving early at the room, after having passed the multiple – and strict – security checks put in place, Prithika Pavade first exchanged a few balls with college students present before the arrival of the Royal couple. “They arrived around 12:05 p.m. and left at 12:45 p.m.,” remembers Molet. Prithika first exchanged a few balls with the Queen, who likes table tennis, then she left her place and gave her racket to Madame Macron. » Captured by the cameras of the media present on site, the sequence has since toured the planet. “I haven’t stopped receiving messages since,” assures Molet.
The player was then able to chat with the king. “He asked her about her preparation for the Paris Olympics and wished her good luck. He even told him that he would follow his journey during the Games,” reports the emblematic president of the club.
Prithika Pavade last June in competition. Photo Icon sport Newspix / Icon Sport
Jean-Claude Molet, too, did not miss anything of this “historic moment” and immortalized the scene with his cell phone. “I was able to hear what they were saying, I was very close,” smiles the person concerned. A little too much for the taste of the photographers present for the event who asked him to step back. The president of Saint-Denis will even have the right to greet Queen Camilla before the departure of the delegation. “It’s a very beautiful memory that Prithika will remember for a long time,” says Jean-Claude Molet. This is probably the only time in your life that you have the opportunity to meet and talk with such personalities. It is also an honor for our discipline and our city. »
After this enchanted break, Prithika Pavade resumed her season with daily training at Insep, the school of French sports champions. She will be back in Saint-Denis this Sunday… to compete in the start of the French team championship.
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