Battersea table tennis star Darius Knight is out to prove a point and show English table tennis he still means business.

The 20-year-old three time national U21 champion, now based in Sheffield, was a victim of UK Sport's Olympic funding cuts last year - which saw his sport have 52 per cent of its budget slashed.

It has meant he has hardly picked up a paddle in competition over the last six months and is subsequently ranked just inside the world’s top 300 as a result.

Based on the world rankings he is England’s number three, but the national standings have him fifth after a disappointing showing at the national championships in March, which saw him reach the U21s quarter-finals and the last 16 of the senior event.

Knight, who is still hopeful of competing at the 2012 Olympics, has become the virtual forgotten man of British table tennis, but a return to his roots could signal a re-birth.

He plays in Saturday’s Burger King Fusion All Star 2010 tournament at Ernest Bevin School in Tooting - which carries a first prize of £1,000 - and is out to make an impression.

“The funding situation has not helped and I’ve probably not helped myself with that. If I was number one in the country it wouldn’t have been a problem,” he said.

“That said it was slightly unfair. I think because I won a lot of international medals as a junior people we expecting me to step straight up, but it takes five or six years to crack the seniors.

“If I can play well at this tournament and win it people might sit up and say this is the guy to take us forward.

“It is a bit of pressure but it is good pressure. It is not about the money it is bout proving a point. The fans who remember me from down will hopefully then see I still have great potential to be a great player on the world stage.”

Knight still has his eyes on the London Olympics, but is also focused on gaining selection for the European Championships and Commonwealth Games later this year.

He secured a doubles and team bronze for England at last year’s Commonwealth Championships in Scotland, while a quarter-final singles exit was not to be sniffed at.

And he is confident he can improve on those results if given the chance, despite having not represented his country this year.

“I could go and I think I should go,” he said.

“I partnered Paul Drinkhall to a doubles bronze last time. Nothing is guaranteed, but I think I’d give him a better chance of getting a medal.

“If I do get there I am confident of turning my singles result last time into a bronze.”