Three British players through to singles finals at European Championships
Rob Davies (men’s class 1), teenager Bly Twomey (women’s class 7) and Grace Williams (women’s class 8) will all play for gold tomorrow at the ITTF European Para Table Tennis Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden having reached the finals of their respective singles events. Tom Matthews (men’s class 1), Chris Ryan (men’s class 2), Martin Perry (men’s class 6), Theo Bishop (men’s class 7), Billy Shilton (men’s class 8) and Fliss Pickard (women’s class 6) all secured bronze medals today but there was disappointment for defending men’s class 7 champion Will Bayley, men’s class 8 World number one Aaron McKibbin, Joshua Stacey (men’s class 9), Paul Karabardak (men’s class 6) and Megan Shackleton (women’s class 4-5) who all lost their respective quarter-finals.
Men’s class 1
Rob Davies came through his quarter-final against Adam Urlauber from Hungary 3-0 to set up an all-GB semi-final against fellow Welshman Tom Matthews. Davies made the better start and led 2-0 before Matthews came back to take the third set but Davies secured his place in the final by taking the fourth set 11-9 for a 3-1 win.
“It’s extremely difficult to play a teammate,” said Davies. “We both know each other’s game so well and Tom has been getting the better of me most of the time lately. I’m obviously really chuffed to win but I’m gutted for Tom. He’s wished me best of luck for the final and I’ve got to do it for both of us now.”
“Rob is a big match player and he’s been here before,” said Matthews, “so I just wish him all the luck in the final and hopefully he can become European champion again. Hopefully it’s me next time – I won 3-0 in the USA and now he’s won today. I’m proud of him and proud of myself. It’s very difficult to play a teammate in a semi-final – one of us had to win and one of us had to lose and sadly I was on the losing side today.”
Men’s class 2
After beating World number five Peter Lovas yesterday Chris Ryan produced the performance of his short career in the quarter-final to beat World number one Rafal Czuper. After edging a tight first set 14-12 he came back from 5-1 down to take the second 11-9 and although the Paralympic champion from Poland won the third 11-6 Ryan secured a 3-1 win, 11-7 in the fourth.
“It feels unbelievable,” he said. “It was a strange match I think for us both. I played him once before when I was new, but we haven’t played each other since I’ve been a decent level. One of the first matches I watched on YouTube was Czuper beating Lamirault (World champion Fabien Lamirault) and he’s inspired me to play the way I do.”
That win ensured Ryan his first major singles medal only three years after taking up table tennis having led the GB wheelchair rugby team to Paralympic gold in Tokyo. In the semi-final he faced one of the legends of Para table tennis in Jan Riapos and the two-time Paralympic champion from Slovakia, who won the first of his six European singles titles in 1999, took the first two sets. Ryan came back to win the third, but Riapos used all his experience to take the fourth set 11-6 and the match 3-1.
“It was a struggle to get into it at the start,” said Ryan. “He was playing clever and giving me difficult balls and then experience won him the match. I’m a bit gutted because that wasn’t my best. I’m not saying I would have won but it was a bit frustrating that I couldn’t play my best. I do feel proud – those big wins I’ve had are massive learning curves for me. Right now, I’m disappointed but on reflection this will be a massive week for me.”
Men’s class 6
Martin Perry produced some brilliant play to win his quarter-final against Marios Chatzikyriakos, the former European team silver medallist from Greece 3-0, for the loss of only nine points and his reward was a semi-final against World number two Peter Rosenmeier. Perry beat Rosenmeier to win gold in the ITTF World Challenger Lasko in May and it was close again today, with the Scotsman levelling the match at 1-1 before the two-time former World and Paralympic champion from Denmark took the next two sets 11-8 to win 3-1.
“I think it was just fine margins,” said Perry. “Losing the first set 11-9 felt a bit unfortunate – a couple of nets and edges went against me but that’s the game. The second set felt really comfortable, and I felt I was dominating the points and thought I was going to come out on top, but it just didn’t happen. I’m absolutely over the moon to get another major medal. I feel I’ve been on an upwards trajectory recently after a few disappointing results in other tournaments and to deliver here at the European Championships means the world to me but at the same time I’m bitterly disappointed not to be in the final tomorrow.”
Paul Karabardak came agonisingly close to joining Perry in the semi-finals after pushing Matteo Parenzan all the way in their quarter-final. The Welshman saved a match point in the fourth set and took it 12-10 to level at 2-2 before the World, Paralympic and European champion from Italy secured a 3-2 win, 11-9 in the deciding set.
Men’s class 7
In only his second major championship Theo Bishop produced another great performance to beat Patrick Vaughan in his quarter-final, holding his nerve at 9-9 in the fourth to take the set 11-9 and the match 3-1. After losing a tight first set against 21-year-old Yannick Paredis from Netherlands Bishop led 10-6 in the second but lost it 12-10 and although he fought back to edge the third 12-10 the Dutchman, who is ranked five places above Bishop at World number 17 took the fourth 11-7 for a 3-1 win.
“I think that second set was massive,” said 22-year-old Bishop. “At 10-6 up you expect to win, and I don’t think I did a lot wrong. I think it was a really high-level match from both of us and he got a few points in the crucial moments. I’m obviously gutted with the result, but I showed how good I can be and he just played a bit better in certain moments. Obviously, I’m sore now and it is hard to appreciate what I’ve done but I’m sure when I look back on it I’ll feel very proud.”
Defending champion Will Bayley never recovered from a slow start in his quarter-final against an inspired Jonas Hansson and at 2-0 down he received treatment in the third set for a problem with his left hamstring. Although Bayley fought back to take the set 11-8 the Swedish World number eight completed a 3-1 win 11-6 in the fourth.
“I was playing well in training and feeling confident,” said Bayley, “but I just didn’t really get going. I think the second set was important – if I’d taken the second set I’d have got a bit of momentum, but he played well. I didn’t play my best but all credit to Hansson. I’ve got to use this now to fuel me to work on things that I need to work on, and I know I’ll be back stronger.”
Men’s class 8
Billy Shilton made a great start to his quarter-final against 19-year-old Borna Zohil to take a 2-0 lead and although the World number two from Croatia reduced the deficit to 2-1 and had a point to level at 2-2 Shilton edged the fourth 13-11 to take the match 3-1 with his third match point. He started well in his semi-final against World number five Clement Berthier, taking the first set but the European doubles champion from France levelled at 1-1 and then came back from 8-4 down in the third to take it 11-9 and went on to take the fourth to win 3-1.
“I felt like I had complete control of the match to be honest,” said Shilton. “At 1-1, 8-4 we had some good tactics and if I had won that set maybe it would have been different but credit to Clement, he played really well. He changed his tactics really well – he was making things very uncomfortable for me and he deserved to win. This morning, I was unbelievably happy to have won my first major singles medal and now it is a bit of a weird feeling because I’m really disappointed, but I think in a couple of days I’ll be really happy with my performance.”
Aaron McKibbin could not find his best form in his quarter-final and was beaten 3-0 by Thomas Bouvais, the World silver medallist and World number six from France.
Men’s class 9
Joshua Stacey found himself 2-0 down to World number eight Lev Kats and although he fought back to take the third 11-9 the World doubles champion and former European silver medallist from Ukraine took the fourth 11-5 for a 3-1 win.
Women’s class 4-5
After losing the first set Megan Shackleton came back strongly to lead 2-1 against Kyra Liepach but the class 5 player from Germany, gold medallist in the ITTF World Para Future Lahti earlier this season levelled at 2-2 and took the deciding set 11-8.
Women’s class 6
Fliss Pickard produced a typically gutsy display in her quarter-final against Gabriela Constantin, saving set points in the third set before edging it 13-11 to lead 2-1 and went on to complete a 3-1 win over the European bronze medallist from Romania 11-2 in the fourth. She started slowly against world number three Katarzyna Marszal but recovered to lead 2-1 before the World and European silver medallist from Poland levelled at 2-2 and took the deciding set 11-9.
“We’ve had some major battles in the past,” said Pickard. “She really went out there and took the game to me today and I wasn’t on full form but that’s my own fault. At least I fought until the end and I’m very disappointed right now but I’m sure I’ll be able to reflect and think about what a good match it’s been. It’s another major medal so I can be proud of that and the journey I’ve had this year. We go forward and continue to grow.”
Women’s class 7
Bly Twomey was impressive in beating Swedish World number 12 Smilla Sand 3-0 in her semi-final and will play the reigning World and European champion Kubra Korkut from Turkey in tomorrow’s final.
“It feels amazing to be in my first major final,” said Twomey. “I’m 15-years-old and to get to a European final and beat someone who has beaten me before, I’m just really proud of myself. To get bronze in the Paralympics and then at least a silver in the Europeans I’m very thankful to everyone who has been there for me – Brighton TTC and all my supporters. I’m really proud to be here and represent GB and I’ve shown I’m a good player by getting to the final.”
Women’s class 8
Grace Williams reached her second successive European final with a 3-0 win against 18-year-old Olaia Martinez from Spain, silver medallist in Slovenia and Finland this season and will play Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medallist Juliane Wolf from Germany in the final tomorrow.
“I can’t really describe my emotions right now,” said Williams. “It feels very similar to two years ago and I’m very happy with that win. I lost to her earlier in the season so to come here and beat her 3-0 I can’t describe how I feel right now. I’m looking forward to the final and hopefully it will be a different experience to two years ago.”