Strong British team to take on the best in Europe

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 and Paris 2024 Paralympic medallists Bly Twomey, Rob Davies, Fliss Pickard, Paul Karabardak and Billy Shilton will compete in the ITTF European Para Table Tennis Championships taking place in Helsingborg, Sweden from November 20-25, 2025.

Bayley will be bidding to retain his title and claim the European crown for the third time having first won it in 2011 while Davies will be hoping to regain the men’s class 1 title he won on four consecutive occasions from 2013 - 2019, before taking silver in 2023. In contrast, 34-year-old McKibbin will be looking for his first major title after a successful season in which back-to-back gold medals in Elite tournaments in Slovenia and the USA have taken him to number one in the world in men’s class 8.

“I’ve had a really good season and that has given me a lot of confidence,” said the 34-year-old Londoner who is now based in Epsom. “Previously going into majors, I always felt that if I played my top game I’d be in the mix and now in the humblest way I feel that if I can turn up and play well, I’ve got a real opportunity to win it. Obviously, it’s always been a dream to win a major championship. 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 just feel if I can get there fit and get a solid block of training behind me then I know I’ll be very difficult to beat. 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.”

McKibbin will also compete in the men’s class 18 doubles with class 9 World number three Joshua Stacey, and the pair go into the European Championships on the back of taking gold in the World Para Elite Spokane tournament in the USA.

“Josh and I work so well together,” he said.  “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. I’m very happy doing the ugly bits that don’t make the highlight reels because it is going to set Josh up to give us the win so that is my job.  The best thing he does for me is he’s happy to listen – if I say something isn’t working let’s try this there is no argument. Our team works really well and that is the most important part of doubles. You can have the best two individual players in the world, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be a good team. Being able to work well with each other and change your game to suit your partner is key and he does that a lot for me, and I do that as much as I can for him.”

Bronze medallist two years ago Fliss Pickard produced her best form in France last week to take gold in the women’s class 6 singles, which will also take her to the top of the world rankings in her class. She will be challenging for medals in both singles and doubles with 15-year-old Bly Twomey.

“This year has been very difficult for me for a number of reasons,” said Pickard, “ but I felt that last week I really stepped up and something clicked and now it is just about preparing the best way I can for the Europeans and take it one match at a time, one point at a time and having the best team around me, I can’t ask for anymore. I feel that when I use my mentality like I did last week 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.

“It is really good to play with Bly. Obviously, she 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.”

BPTT Programme Manager Shaun Marples said: “With this team there are definitely different expectations within the players. Some are going to their first major competition, some are seasoned pros and with the year that we have had and especially over the last three or four weeks the team is closer than ever and there is a real clear objective to go out there and be a force. We’ve had some changes within the doubles pairings, but I think we’ve got some solid, confirmed partnerships now going in as high seeds. The experience that those players have had together over the last three or four years have put them in good stead for the Europeans so it is something to strive for and work together to make sure they achieve what they can.

“The athletes and staff have responded really well to the new competition structure introduced this year and it doesn’t matter who you beat now it is about how far you get in terms of the tournaments. It gives opportunity for people to get higher up in the rankings just by being active on the competition calendar and winning matches, so we’ve had some good learning as a programme. Together with the athletes we’ll look to shape it even better regarding what tournaments they compete in next year and in the future to give themselves the best possible chance of LA in 2028.”

The full British team for the ITTF European Para Table Tennis Championships 2025 is:

Men’s singles:

Class 1: Rob Davies, 41, Brecon

Class 1: Tom Matthews, 33, Aberdare

Class 2: Chris Ryan, 34, Welwyn Garden City
Class 4-5: Jack Hunter-Spivey, 30, Liverpool/Sheffield
Class 6: Paul Karabardak, 40, Swansea
Class 6: Martin Perry, 31, Paisley/Dumbarton
Class 7: Will Bayley, 37, Tunbridge Wells/Brighton

Class 7: Theo Bishop, 22, Rawtenstall/Sheffield

Class 8: Ryan Henry, 25, Ardrossan/Sheffield
Class 8: Aaron McKibbin, 34, London (Wandsworth)/Epsom
Class 8: Billy Shilton, 26, Stonehouse (Gloucester)/Sheffield
Class 9: Joshua Stacey, 25, Cardiff/Sheffield

Class 10: Shae Thakker, 22, High Wycombe/Sheffield

Women’s singles:

Class 4-5: Megan Shackleton, 26, Todmorden/Sheffield
Class 6: Felicity Pickard, 31, Clitheroe
Class 7: Bly Twomey, 15, Brighton
Class 8: Grace Williams, 22, Llanfyllin/Sheffield

Men’s doubles:

Class 4: Chris Ryan and Tom Matthews

Class 14: Will Bayley and Theo Bishop

Class 14: Billy Shilton and Paul Karabardak

Class 18: Joshua Stacey and Aaron McKibbin

Class 18: Shae Thakker and Ryan Henry

Women’s doubles

Class 14: Bly Twomey and Fliss Pickard

Mixed doubles:

Class 10: Jack Hunter-Spivey and Megan Shackleton

Class 14: Will Bayley and Bly Twomey

Class 14: Martin Perry and Grace Williams