National champions included in strong British squad for USA Elite tournament
Recently crowned National champions Megan Shackleton and Joshua Stacey are included in a 15-strong British squad for the ITTF World Para Elite Spokane 2025 taking place in Washington state, USA from August 9-13. The squad also includes Paris 2024 Paralympic medallists Will Bayley, Rob Davies, Bly Twomey, Fliss Pickard, Paul Karabardak and Billy Shilton.
In addition to winning the Ladies Wheelchair title Megan Shackleton beat regular mixed doubles partner Jack Hunter-Spivey 3-2 to win the Open Wheelchair title at the Michael Hawkesworth National Championships in Sheffield.
“It means a lot to win the Open title,” she said, “especially to have to beat a top player like Jack from men’s class 5. I think it shows that all the hard work we’re doing in Sheffield is paying off for me and it was nice to be a woman at the top of the podium against the boys. In the last few weeks, we’ve played a lot of matches and they’ve been 3-2 and I’ve won one and lost a few. On the training camp in Sweden, I beat the two Swedish boys, so I think Jack knew I’d improved, and I don’t think it shocked him too much.
“I went 2-0 up and when it was 2-2 I had to change my tactics a little bit but thankfully a lot of the stuff I’ve been working on in training, especially mixing in my touch play with my attacking game served me really well so I’ll be looking to bring that in the USA as well and hopefully see some more success from it.
“I think I’ve been gradually improving throughout the year and starting to consolidate some different things into my game so I’m feeling positive for the USA and excited to get started and see where I’m at. I’d like to make it all the way to the end obviously but I’m definitely looking to be in the medals.”
Joshua Stacey is currently ranked number two in the world in men’s class 9 after taking gold and silver respectively in the Challenger and Elite events in Slovenia in May. He did not lose a set in winning the Open Standing and class 9-10 singles events in Sheffield and is hoping to continue that form in Spokane.
“Going into my class singles I expected to win,” he said, “especially being seeded number one so I placed that expectation on myself and I think I played well. I made sure I was able to play my game and I almost suffocated who I was playing, and I think it reflected in the score lines. Obviously, I’m very pleased to have won.
“I definitely think I’ve made improvements from Slovenia. Although they were good tournaments for me, I came back from there with a clear picture of what I needed to do to get better and to make me more solid. I think I’ve made a lot of good adjustments – the goal of improvement is never-ending, but I think I’m in a good place going into the USA and the Nationals provided relevant match practice which is always good to have.”
Stacey beat Aaron McKibbin in the final of the Open Standing singles and will partner the men’s class 8 World number one in the men’s class 18 doubles.
“Aaron is based in London, and I’m based in Sheffield so practice itself is quite difficult,” said Stacey, “but we are pretty good at having conversations about previous matches and where we both think we can get better to enable us to get the best out of each other during a doubles match. Probably one of our main strengths is our openness to changing things during a match as well as having the conversations before and after.”
Men’s class 7 World and European champion Will Bayley and Chris Ryan (men’s class 2) will also compete in the preceding ITTF World Para Future Spokane tournament from August 6-8.
The British squad for the ITTF World Para Elite Spokane (August 9-13) is:
Will Bayley, 37, Tunbridge Wells/Brighton – class 7
Theo Bishop, 22, Rossendale/Sheffield – class 7
Rob Davies, 40, Brecon – class 1
Jack Hunter-Spivey, 30, Liverpool/Sheffield – class 5
Paul Karabardak, 39, Swansea – class 6
Tom Matthews, 32, Aberdare – class 1
Aaron McKibbin, 33, London (Wandsworth)/Epsom – class 8
Martin Perry, 31, Paisley/Dumbarton – class 6
Fliss Pickard, 31, Burnley/Sheffield – class 6
Chris Ryan, 34, Welwyn Garden City – class 2
Megan Shackleton, 25, Todmorden/Sheffield – class 4
Billy Shilton, 26, Stonehouse (Gloucester)/Sheffield – class 8
Joshua Stacey, 25, Cardiff/Sheffield – class 9
Bly Twomey, 15, Brighton – class 7
Grace Williams, 22, Llanfyllin/Sheffield – class 8