The new Paralympic cycle is underway, and British Para table tennis players have already made their mark on the international stage. With a packed calendar of events, rising stars and experienced athletes alike have been competing across major tournaments, testing themselves against the world’s best.
From breakthrough performances to hard-fought battles, we take a look at the key moments and highlights shaping Britain’s journey toward Los Angeles 2028.
British success at the 2024 SQY French Para Open marks the start of a new table tennis Paralympic cycle
The 2024 SQY French Para Open marked the beginning of the next Paralympic cycle, providing British athletes with an opportunity to test themselves on the international stage.
Rising to the occasion, Shae Thakker secured his first international gold in the men’s Class 10 singles, defeating Kazakhstan’s Marat Surtubayev in a gripping five-set final. Chris Ryan also impressed, earning silver in Class 1-2 singles and claiming gold in the men’s Class 4 doubles alongside Poland’s Tomasz Jakimczuk. Max Flint added to Britain’s success with a bronze in men’s Class 10 singles.
In the women’s competition, 14-year-old Bly Twomey stunned the field, capturing gold in Class 7 with a dominant 3-0 victory over Asian Para Games champion Wang Rui. Grace Williams also made her mark, securing bronze in women’s Class 8 singles.
In the mixed doubles event, Daniel Thomson, partnering with Kazakhstan’s Aruzhan Giniyatova in Class 14, won his first international medal, a bronze.
With these strong performances, British players have set a solid foundation for the new Paralympic cycle, using this tournament as a stepping stone toward future international events and ultimately aiming for success at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
Billy Shilton takes silver in Para Showcase at Singapore Smash
Gloucestershire’s Billy Shilton produced some great performances to take silver in the men’s singles in the Para Showcase at the Singapore Smash, one of the leading events in world table tennis taking place at the Singapore Sports Hub.
Last year’s inaugural Para showcase featured athletes from classes 6 and 7, with Will Bayley taking silver in the men’s singles and Bly Twomey bronze in the women’s singles.
This year the event featured 19 of the best athletes in the world from class 8 to 11 men and eight women. World number eight Billy Shilton was joined in the men’s singles by world number seven Aaron McKibbin with world number 10 Grace Williams competing in the women’s singles.
Billy Shilton started strong, defeating Lee Caleb Jia Xuan and Clement Berthier before edging Maksym Chudzicki 3-2 to reach the semi-finals. He overcame Borna Zohil in a five-set battle but fell 3-0 in the final to World and Paralympic champion Viktor Didukh, securing a hard-fought silver medal.
“I’m really pleased to have made the final here in Singapore,” said Billy. “It was a great event and I’m really happy with the level I showed up until the final. Beating Clement, Borna and Chudzicki – they are top players in our class – and I felt like I played my table tennis and the things I’ve been working on with Dave and Rushy (BPTT coaches David McBeath and Andrew Rushton) in the hall are all starting to pay off.
“I think in the final it was a combination of things. I made a lot of mistakes – I was trying to do the right thing but maybe forcing it a bit too much. Didukh is an amazing player and the best player in our class. He doesn’t make many mistakes, and I wasn’t safe enough in the match and I think that was the reason he won so comfortably. But on the whole, I’m really pleased, and it was great to play in the event.”
Aaron McKibbin faced a tough group, beating Wangphonphathanasiri 3-0 but missing out on the semi-finals on set ratio. He lost 3-1 to Didukh despite a strong start.
Grace Williams fell 3-1 to Chaiwut-Kriabklang and Kamkasomphou, then lost 3-1 to Elli after taking the first set, finishing without advancing.
Ryan Henry and Shae Thakker join the BPTT Performance squad
In mid-February, it was announced young British Para table tennis athletes Ryan Henry and Shae Thakker have been rewarded for their recent progress by moving from the Pathway squad to join the BPTT Performance squad.
Ryan Henry, 24, from Ardrossan put his university degree on hold in 2022 to move to Sheffield to train full-time with the British squad. He has made steady progress since making his international debut in 2016, taking singles bronze and doubles silver in the European Para Youth Games in 2022 and silver in the men’s class 8 singles at the US Para Open in 2023.
Shae Thakker, 21, from Denham in Buckinghamshire also trains full-time with the British squad and is currently combining his table tennis with studying for a Master’s in sport and exercise psychology at Sheffield Hallam University.
Having made his international debut at the age of 12 he won gold in the men’s class 10 singles at the Romania Junior Open two years later and won gold in the men’s class 10 singles at the European Universities Games in 2022, beating the Polish World number 7 and European bronze medallist Igor Misztal.
Last year he won his first senior international title, taking gold in the men’s class 10 singles at the French Para Open.
“Ryan has been training really hard, and it’s been great to see him move to Sheffield and train more regularly with the team,” said BPTT Programme manager and Pathway squad manager Shaun Marples.
“Ryan has steadily progressed up the rankings in the past 12 months and has had some good wins and performances against players in the top 20 of his class. Moving into the Performance squad will give him even more opportunity to progress further, with access to the athlete support team in Sheffield as well as allowing him to become a full-time athlete.
“Shae is currently doing his Masters at Sheffield Hallam University and also moved to Sheffield to access training around his studies. He has managed this really well over the past years and in October last year, won his first ITTF F20 competition, beating players around the top 10 in the world. He’s a great player and this promotion allows him to focus on building on his training programme and establish himself higher up the rankings in class 10.”
Ryan and Shae will focus this year on selection for the European Championships in November with a long-term aim of qualification for the Paralympic Games in 2028.
ITTF World Para Circuit 2025: British Para table tennis squad gains experience in Lignano
Seven British athletes competed in the World Para Future Lignano tournament in Italy from March 6th to 9th. The tournament marks the start of a new era for Para table tennis, following the introduction of a new three-tiered competition structure for the ITTF World Para Circuit. The new structure includes a brand-new logo, an updated ranking system, and more than 20 events across all continents, designed to raise the sport’s profile worldwide and make it the most global and diverse Paracircuit in ITTF history.
It features Future, Challenger, and Elite tiers, providing players with growth opportunities. A revamped ranking system now updates weekly, with points awarded based on performance. Rankings are based on a player’s top six results from the past year, ensuring fairness.
At the World Para Future Lignano tournament, Britain’s young squad gained valuable experience despite no singles medals. Dan Thomson impressed in Men’s Class 6, defeating Denmark’s Nicklas Jensen to reach the quarterfinals, where he lost to World No. 7 Bobi Simion. Theo Bishop (Men’s Class 7) won all three group matches but fell in a close five-set quarterfinal against Argentina’s Luciano Khazandjian.
In doubles, Dan Thomson and Jacob Wicks narrowly missed the knockout stages in Men’s Class 14 after a 3-2 win over Argentina. Shae Thakker and Ryan Henry progressed from their group in Men’s Class 18 before falling in the quarterfinals. Max Flint and Theo Bishop secured a hard-fought 3-2 win against Belgium and Malaysia.
British squad gains valuable experience at ITTF World Para Future Costa Brava
The same British squad from Lignano has recently been focused on the ITTF World Para Future Costa Brava tournament in Platja d’Aro, Spain, joined by World Doubles champions Fliss Pickard and Grace Williams, aiming for further progress.
There were some good wins and promising performances from a largely inexperienced squad, with six other British athletes progressing from their groups to the knockout stages.
Fliss Pickard (Women’s Class 6) reached the semi-finals with wins over Bhavikaben Kukadiya and Barbara Jablonka but lost 3-0 to France’s Morgen Caillaud.
Grace Williams (Women’s Class 8) topped her group with a comeback win over Lucie Hautiere but settled for bronze after a 3-0 semi-final loss to Olaia Martinez.
In Men’s Class 3, Romain Simon progressed as group runner-up but exited in the quarterfinals after a close 3-0 loss to Ibrahim Alhassan.
Dan Thomson (Men’s Class 6) advanced with a comeback win against Yaser Hussaini but lost to Piotr Manturz in the quarterfinals.
Jacob Wicks impressed with a five-set battle against Manturz but lost another tight quarterfinal to Samuel Altshuler.
Theo Bishop (Men’s Class 7) reached the quarterfinals but fell in five sets to World No. 7 Michal Deigsler.
Ryan Henry (Men’s Class 8) won his group decider but lost in the last 16 to Roy Van Der Burg.
Shae Thakker (Men’s Class 10) progressed but fell to Lorenzo Cordua, while Max Flint faced a tough group, losing to World No. 4 Mateo Boheas and Cordua.
You can find out more about the British Para table tennis squad by visiting its website and following them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Read: Martin Perry: British Table Tennis Debutant Aims For First Paralympic Medal