Teenager Twomey takes gold in Thailand

European champion Bly Twomey made a successful return to international competition in Thailand today, taking gold in the women’s class 7 singles at the ITTF World Para Future Nakhon Ratchasima while Lowri Hurd took bronze in women’s class 9.

Women’s class 7
Bly Twomey was a 3-0 winner against Jhona Pena from the Philippines, silver medallist in last year’s ITTF World Para Future Taipei and then lost only five points in defeating 14-year-old Mirraa Priyanka Madhvapathi, the Asian Para Youth Games bronze medallist from India. Twomey secured her place in the knockout stages as group winner with a 3-0 win against Sonalbahen Shamajibhai Dabhi, the 32-year-old newcomer from India and won her semi-final against Siti Fadhilah from Indonesia 3-0.

That took her through to the final where she faced Jhona Pena again. Twomey led 2-0 but Pena came back to take the third set 11-6 before the 16-year-old from Brighton raised her game in the fourth to take it 11-4 for a 3-1 win.

“I feel really happy to have taken the gold in this tournament,” said Twomey, who was competing for the first time since retiring in the ITTF World Para Challenger Lignano in Italy in March. “As I haven’t competed in a Future tournament before I knew there would be some awkward opponents and I’m ecstatic to get through the matches and get the win. I felt that I progressed as the tournament went on and started to play my game. My mum has always said to ‘just have fun’ so I went out there and listened to her. In the third set of the final, I felt my opponent played a really good game and was a lot more consistent. I was 2-0 up and started playing to the wrong places and therefore lost it. Every game I tried my hardest, but I felt that in the final I was more up for it and that’s why I got the victory I played for. I’m looking forward to the Thailand Elite in a few days’ time – there are some top players competing and I will try my best to give them a hard time and hopefully bring home another medal.”

Women’s class 9
Lowri Hurd won her first match 3-0 against 17-year-old Mairu Kaneda from Japan and was then beaten 3-0 by Lney Marie Manginsay, the Asian Para Youth Games silver medallist from the Philippines. A 3-0 win in her final group match against 18-year-old Mehak Kaur from India took her through to the quarterfinals where she was a 3-0 winner against Chayanan Settisrikoedkun, the 2023 World Ability Games silver medallist from Thailand. Hurd lost 3-2 to World number six Kim Kun-Hea in Beijing last month and the 2018 World champion from the Republic of Korea had the edge again today, taking the match in three close sets.

“I think overall I played well,” said Hurd. “My second group match was hard, especially against her long pimples. I spent time reflecting and learnt how to deal with the spin for my last group match, which was also against long pimples, but I managed to deal with them well. I managed to dominate the game well in the quarterfinal but in the semi-final she played really well, and I struggled to find my game. Overall, I’m pleased that I managed to bounce back from my group loss and get another medal.”

Men’s class 8
Ryan Henry was a 3-0 winner against Panupong Santaya from Thailand and then received a walkover when World silver medallist Thomas Bouvais from France withdrew. He progressed to the knockout stages as group winner after a 3-0 win against Gaurav Desai from India but went out in the round of 16 after a 3-1 loss to World number 18 Alejandro Diaz, the European doubles bronze medallist from Spain.

Men’s class 10
Shae Thakker fought back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 against World number 11 and number one seed Jose Manuel Ruiz and was just edged out 13-11 in the deciding set by the former World and European champion from Spain. Thakker again showed great determination to come back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 against Vishwa Vijay Tambe and this time took the deciding set 11-3 to beat the 22-year-old Asian Para Youth Games silver medallist from India 3-2.

That ensured his progress into the knockout stages and after taking a close first set in the quarterfinal against Hu Runtao 13-11 he went on to lose 3-1, 13-11 in the fourth set to the 21-year-old from China, who was gold medallist in the ITTF World Para Future Yalova in April.

Twomey and Hurd will remain in Thailand for the ITTF World Para Elite Nakhon Ratchasima that starts on Saturday where they will be part of a 14-strong British squad.

The full British squad for the ITTF World Para Future Nakhon Ratchasima 2026 (July 13-16) is:
Ryan Henry, 26, Ardrossan/Sheffield (class 8)
Lowri Hurd, 18, Grantham (class 9)
Shae Thakker, 22, High Wycombe/Sheffield (class 10)
Bly Twomey, 16, Brighton (class 7)

The full British squad for the ITTF World Para Elite Nakhon Ratchasima 2026 (July 18-22) is:
Will Bayley, 37, Tunbridge Wells/Brighton (class 7)
Rob Davies, 41, Brecon (class 1)
Jack Hunter-Spivey, 31, Liverpool/Sheffield (class 5)
Lowri Hurd, 18, Grantham/Bedford (class 9)
Paul Karabardak, 40, Swansea (class 6)
Tom Matthews, 33, Aberdare (class 1)
Aaron McKibbin, 34, London (Wandsworth)/Epsom (class 8)
Martin Perry, 32, Paisley/Dumbarton (class 6)
Felicity Pickard, 31, Burnley/Sheffield (class 6)
Chris Ryan, 34, Welwyn Garden City (class 2)
Billy Shilton, 26, Stonehouse (Gloucester)/Sheffield (class 8)
Joshua Stacey, 26, Cardiff/Sheffield (class 9)
Bly Twomey, 16, Brighton (class 7)
Grace Williams, 23, Llanfyllin/Sheffield (class 8)