European Para Championships: British Squad announced

November 11, 2025 | Francesca Bullock

A team of 17 British athletes including reigning men’s class 7 world and European champion Will Bayley, men’s class 8 world No 1 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 in Helsingborg, Sweden from November 20-25.

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 menâ€s class 1 title he won on four consecutive occasions from 2013 to 2019, before taking silver in 2023.

Aaron McKibbin will be looking to build on his great form this season

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 menâ€s class 8.

“Iâ€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 Iâ€d be in the mix and now in the humblest way I feel that if I can turn up and play well, Iâ€ve got a real opportunity to win it.

“Obviously, itâ€s always been a dream to win a major championship. Iâ€ve won a singles medal at the World Championships, but Iâ€ve never won a European singles medal and Iâ€ve had a few opportunities that Iâ€ve not taken.

“I just feel if I can get there fit and get a solid block of training behind me then I know Iâ€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.â€

McKibbin will also compete in the menâ€s class 18 doubles with class 9 world No 3 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. â€œWe know our roles really well and I understand that if Iâ€m able to bring the best out in Josh our chances of winning go up a lot.

“Iâ€m very happy doing the ugly bits that donâ€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 heâ€s happy to listen – if I say ‘something isnâ€t working, letâ€s try thisâ€, 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 doesnâ€t necessarily mean theyâ€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.â€

Fliss Pickard is now top of the world rankings in her class

Bronze medallist two years ago Fliss Pickard produced her best form in France last week to take gold in the womenâ€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 canâ€t ask for any more.

“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 Iâ€m up there, Iâ€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 weâ€ve both got that fighting spirit, so we work really well together.â€

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.

“Weâ€ve had some changes within the doubles pairings, but I think weâ€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 doesnâ€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 weâ€ve had some good learning as a programme. Together with the athletes weâ€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 for LA in 2028.â€

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

Menâ€s singles:
Class 1: Rob Davies, Tom Matthews; Class 2: Chris Ryan; Class 4-5: Jack Hunter-Spivey; Class 6: Paul Karabardak, Martin Perry; Class 7: Will Bayley, Theo Bishop; Class 8: Ryan Henry, Aaron McKibbin, Billy Shilton; Class 9: Joshua Stacey; Class 10: Shae Thakker

Womenâ€s singles:
Class 4-5: Megan Shackleton; Class 6: Felicity Pickard; Class 7: Bly Twomey; Class 8: Grace Williams

Menâ€s doubles:
Class 4: Chris Ryan & Tom Matthews; Class 14: Will Bayley & Theo Bishop, Billy Shilton & Paul Karabardak; Class 18: Joshua Stacey & Aaron McKibbin, Shae Thakker & Ryan Henry

Womenâ€s doubles
Class 14: Bly Twomey & Fliss Pickard

Mixed doubles:
Class 10: Jack Hunter-Spivey & Megan Shackleton; Class 14: Will Bayley & Bly Twomey, Martin Perry & Grace Williams

Source link