British team ready for European challenge
A team of 17 British athletes including reigning men's class 7 World and European champion Will Bayley, men's class 8 world number one Aaron McKibbin, women’s class 6 world number one Fliss Pickard, Paris 2024 Paralympic medallists Bly Twomey, Rob Davies, Paul Karabardak and Billy Shilton and European 2023 singles medallists Grace Williams, Tom Matthews, Jack Hunter-Spivey and Martin Perry will compete in the ITTF European Para Table Tennis Championships taking place in Helsingborg, Sweden from November 20-25, 2025.
The full British team for the ITTF European Para Table Tennis Championships 2025 is:
Men’s singles:
Class 1: Rob Davies, 41, Brecon
“For me the Europeans are special. I’ve won a few now and it is always the pinnacle that I want to be at my best for. I want to put a marker down and play well - I just want to do my best and if you can do your best on the table that’s all you can do.”
Class 1: Tom Matthews, 33, Aberdare
“My game is in a good place and mentally I’m in a good place so I’m looking forward to getting out there and playing. It would mean a lot to win my first major title – with everything that is going on at the moment, it would mean a hell of a lot.”
Class 2: Chris Ryan, 34, Welwyn Garden City
“Going into this year’s Europeans feels completely different to two years ago. It’s still going to be a very difficult tournament, but I’ve got a lot more confidence in terms of my level and who I can beat.”
Class 4-5 - Jack Hunter-Spivey, 30, Liverpool/Sheffield
“All I can do is fight and give it my all and hopefully I can come up with some good results again. Overall, this season I feel I’ve made a lot of improvement and I’m trying my best to get my level as high as I possibly can.”
Class 6: Paul Karabardak, 40, Swansea
“I’ve started to find my form after a difficult two years. I think I’m back to playing how I should be so hopefully I can take that into the Europeans and have a good competition.”
Class 6: Martin Perry, 31, Paisley/Dumbarton
“I do feel that I’m on the right path to performing well. I believe if I can play my best I can beat anyone, so it is just about making sure I give myself the best opportunities to do that on the table.”
Class 7: Will Bayley, 37, Tunbridge Wells/Brighton
“I know I’m going to have to bring my best level to win and I’m confident I can do that. There are a lot of good players that are playing very well, and I don’t want to take anything for granted. I just need to play my best level and hopefully that will take care of itself.”
Class 7: Theo Bishop, 22, Rawtenstall/Sheffield
“The last Europeans were a bit of a breakthrough for me and definitely helped me to get to the next level. I know within myself that I always like the pressure, and I like big moments so I don’t see why I can’t bring out my best form on the biggest stage I’ve played on so far.”
Class 8: Ryan Henry, 25, Ardrossan/Sheffield
“I’ve put in a lot of hard work especially in the last three years since I’ve been training full time in Sheffield so I’m really happy to get to my first major championship.”
Class 8: Aaron McKibbin, 34, London (Wandsworth)/Epsom
“I’ve won a singles medal at the World Championships, but I’ve never won a European singles medal and I’ve had a few opportunities that I’ve not taken. I believe my level is there to be one of the best in the world and more than anything I want to prove it to myself.”
Class 8: Billy Shilton, 26, Stonehouse (Gloucester)/Sheffield
“I’ve done a lot of work since the summer break, and I’m really focused now and determined to turn those results into medals. I know what I am capable of, it is just about getting over that line now.”
Class 9: Joshua Stacey, 25, Cardiff/Sheffield
“I’ll have a top four seeding for the first time at a major since the Worlds in 2022 so I’m looking forward to going out and competing and trying to make sure I’m on the podium at the very least.”
Class 10: Shae Thakker, 22, High Wycombe/Sheffield
“Something that I dreamed of when I was young was playing in a major championship for GB so it’s a special feeling and I can’t wait to get out there and play. I’ve had some good results this year and I’m just hoping I can show that in the Europeans.”
Women’s singles:
Class 4-5: Megan Shackleton, 26, Todmorden/Sheffield
“I know I’ve got to keep working hard to get what I want out of the Championships. I know what it takes to get myself in a good place and perform on the table and that is what is helping with the consistency.”
Class 6: Felicity Pickard, 31, Clitheroe
“I feel that when I use my mentality like I did in France then my approach has got to be the best in the world, and I believe I can fight for every ball. There are a lot of strong opponents out there, but I believe I’m up there, I’ve just got to keep fighting.
Class 7: Bly Twomey, 15, Brighton
“My form is really good, so I’m looking forward to seeing what I can achieve at the Europeans and hopefully I can do better than last time.”
Class 8: Grace Williams, 22, Llanfyllin/Sheffield
“I’ve been training hard and the fact that I’ve medalled in a lot of competitions this year and I’ve been very consistent is again giving me a confidence boost.”
Men’s doubles:
Class 4: Chris Ryan and Tom Matthews
Chris Ryan: “We’re going to be playing against some very experienced teams and we’re also playing as a 3 in class 4, but I think we can do some good things and we’ve got a certain style that could work.”
Tom Matthews: “I think we make a very strong pair and there is a chance of a medal there so we will fight for every ball and I’m really looking forward to playing alongside Chris.”
Class 14: Will Bayley and Theo Bishop
Will Bayley: “We seem to be getting better and have more of an understanding. I think it works well because we’re a left- and right-handed combination so we don’t have to move as much as other pairs might have to and that makes a big difference in class 14.”
Theo Bishop: “I am like a sponge when we are playing and I’m just trying to learn as much as I can. It is such a massive opportunity for me to learn from Will and also get great results with him, and I don’t see why we can’t go all the way at the Europeans.”
Class 14: Billy Shilton and Paul Karabardak
Billy Shilton: “Paul has been playing really well – he’s like a fine wine that’s getting better with age – and that helps me because he is so experienced and it makes me more relaxed. I’m really excited and grateful for the opportunity to be competing with him again.”
Paul Karabardak: “We’ve had a lot of success, and I don’t see any reason why we can’t add to that. I think we have got a really good chance to do well so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.”
Class 18: Joshua Stacey and Aaron McKibbin
Joshua Stacey: “I definitely think we are playing at a better level than last year. Although our top level has increased, I think our average level is also higher which makes us a lot harder to beat.”
Aaron McKibbin: “Josh and I work so well together. We know our roles really well and I understand that if I’m able to bring the best out in Josh our chances of winning go up a lot.”
Class 18: Shae Thakker and Ryan Henry
Shae Thakker: “We both started this journey at a similar time so to play with Ryan is almost poetic and I think we can go there and give a great account of ourselves.”
Ryan Henry: “I enjoy playing with Shae; he’s very cool-headed and we can bounce off each other in a match but we’re really just looking to try and compete as best we can and hopefully get some good results.”
Women’s doubles
Class 14: Bly Twomey and Fliss Pickard
Bly Twomey: “Fliss and I always think we’ve got to have fun and that is the most important thing. We’re going to learn a lot from every match, and it doesn’t really matter what the score is.”
Fliss Pickard: “Bly is a lot younger than me and she brings that sense of fun and naivety and makes sure we have some fun with it. I think it brings the best out of me because we can just play with that freedom and we’ve both got that fighting spirit, so we work really well together.”
Mixed doubles:
Class 10: Jack Hunter-Spivey and Megan Shackleton
Jack Hunter-Spivey: “To play doubles with one of your best mates in one of the biggest tournaments is incredible. Meg and I always fight for every ball, and it means a lot to us to go out there and hopefully bring back another European medal.”
Megan Shackleton: “We don’t take anything for granted and we know that anything can happen on the day but we’re working hard in the hall and hopefully we can improve on what we did last time.”
Class 14: Will Bayley and Bly Twomey
Will Bayley: “Bly and I haven’t lost this season, and we’ve had some really good wins so I hope we can do the business in the Europeans. To win the Europeans would be really nice for Bly.”
Bly Twomey: “Will has been my coach since the beginning so I’m looking forward to playing with him, especially as we’re number one seeds.”
Class 14: Martin Perry and Grace Williams
Martin Perry: “We’ve had some good results in the past and medalled at big tournaments, and we’ve been really close to a lot of top teams, so I genuinely believe anything is possible.”
Grace Williams: “We only started playing together last season and the fact that we’ve had some good results and won some medals does give me a confidence boost. I really enjoy doubles and to have someone else on the table with you just makes it a bit easier.”