November 24, 2025 | Francesca Bullock
It was a triumph for youth and experience for the British team yesterday at the ITTF European Para Table Tennis Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden with 15-year-old Bly Twomey winning her first major title in the womenâ€s class 7 singles and Welshman Rob Davies winning his fifth European singles title in menâ€s class 1.
Grace Williams also took silver in the womenâ€s class 8 singles, taking the teamâ€s medal tally in the singles events to nine with Tom Matthews (menâ€s class 1), Chris Ryan (menâ€s class 2), Martin Perry (menâ€s class 6), Theo Bishop (menâ€s class 7), Billy Shilton (menâ€s class 8) and Fliss Pickard (womenâ€s class 6) all securing bronze medals on Saturday.
Womenâ€s class 7
Bly Twomey was competing in her first major final and faced the world champion and defending European champion Kubra Korkut, the 31-year-old from Turkey who made her international debut three years before Twomey was born. Twomey led 2-0 in their Paralympic semi-final last year before Korkut came back to win 3-2 and although Twomey had gained her revenge twice in Slovenia earlier this year Korkut had won their most recent encounter in France last month.
The first set was nip and tuck, but Twomey won it 11-9 and then took the second 11-5 to lead 2-0. This time Korkut had no answer to the brilliant play from her young opponent and Twomey raced through the third set and let out a roar of triumph as she clinched it 11-3 to take the match 3-0 and European gold.
It was a performance of astonishing maturity by the Brighton teenager, whose preparation for the tournament had been combined with sitting her mock GCSE exams.
Bly Twomey with her gold medal
“I canâ€t really explain how I feel,†said Twomey. “Itâ€s such a surreal moment – it was my first major final and to get there at such a young age is incredible and I couldnâ€t ask for more.
“Having all the support from British Para Table Tennis and Brighton Table Tennis Club is why I won – without them I wouldnâ€t be here, and I wouldnâ€t be the person I am today so having them by my side and knowing theyâ€re there for me when I need them is great.â€
Having experienced Korkutâ€s fighting qualities Twomey admitted that she kept her nerve during the match by telling herself she wasnâ€t going to win.
“I think it was really important to win the first set just to take the pressure off,†she said. “Over the course of my matches with Kubra normally Iâ€m 2-0 up and she makes a comeback, so in the third set I was telling myself, ‘youâ€re not going to win this†and then hopefully I will win and it worked.
“I think I worked out what she was doing and played the shots I should at the right moment. Andrew (head coach Andrew Rushton) was really helpful and encouraged me to just keep fighting even though I was down a bit in the first set.
“In the early matches I felt the pressure of getting to the final, so I didnâ€t play very well but in this final I was really up for it. I knew the least I could get was silver and that would be incredible so Iâ€m just really proud of getting gold and showing people that I can do that.â€
Menâ€s class 1
Rob Davies narrowly missed out on a fifth European title at the European Championships in 2023, losing a very close final to the Hungarian Endre Major, and took silver again in last yearâ€s Paralympic Games in Paris. The Welshman came into these Championships in great form having won gold in France last month but lost a very close match to final opponent Federico Falco in the group stages two days earlier.
He started well in the final, taking the first set 11-7 and then took the third 11-6 after the Paralympic bronze medallist from Italy had levelled at 1-1. The fourth set was a rollercoaster with Davies fighting back from 8-3 down to level at 8-8. Falco saved a match point at 10-9 down and then had two set points saved before Davies clinched the set 14-12 and the match 3-1 with a backhand winner.
Rob Davies celebrates his victory
“It feels pretty good to be European champion again,†he said. “Itâ€s taken a lot to get to this stage to try and perform again at the top level, when youâ€re in those finals winning those close matches and remembering how to do it again.
“I donâ€t think Iâ€ve ever lost in the group and won gold before so to lose to Falco in the group and then beat him in the final when it was most important, Iâ€m really chuffed.
“Tom (Matthews) and I had to play in the semi-final which was a bit gutting that we couldnâ€t meet in the final. Thank you to Tom for the support and pushing me week in week out.
“Having lost in the group match gave us a good game plan to work off – sometimes that works in your favour and sometimes it doesnâ€t, but I managed to keep my head and not get too nervous. Nerves were there all the way along, but you just try and focus on the next point, try not to be too shaky and try and play your best in that moment. Luckily, I could – some of the shots he played were unbelievable and he pushed me all the way and Iâ€m just pleased that I got the gold.â€
It was the Rio 2016 Paralympic championâ€s first major title since he won his fourth consecutive European gold in 2019, and he proved once again that he thrives on the big occasion.
“I do like playing on the big stage,†said Davies. “I like the build-up and having a target that you want to be at your best for. Iâ€ve got to say a huge thank you to my coach Nathan Thomas – heâ€s been massive for me for the last six years. Iâ€ve been struggling with my mental health and the different changes within our sport and Nathan has been there every step of the way with me. Heâ€s been my psychologist sometimes and really cheered me up when Iâ€ve needed it. I probably would have finished if it wasnâ€t for him.
“There are so many people I need to thank – Neil Robinson, my friends and family, my PA Lewis who has been a legend over the last few years – without them I wouldnâ€t be able to come here and compete. Itâ€s huge to be able to come back at my age and win another title – Iâ€m really chuffed that I could get to that level again. Iâ€ll keep going, keep pushing on. Itâ€s the World Championships next year so Iâ€ll look forward to that and try to push myself even more.â€
Womenâ€s class 8
Grace Williams announced herself on the international stage by taking silver in the womenâ€s class 8 singles at the European Championships in 2023 and since then has established herself in the worldâ€s top 10. She had never beaten Juliane Wolf and the 37-year-old German, Paralympic bronze medallist in Paris last year, used her greater experience to edge a tight first set 13-11. That proved crucial as it gave the world No 6 the momentum and she took the second set 11-5 and the third 11-6 to win 3-0 and take the gold.
Grace Williams in action in Helsingborg
“Weâ€ve played each other a few times now,†said Williams, “and we knew going into the match that whoever won that first set had the momentum to then get the next set. She was a bit better than me and did what she had to do. She just caught me out a few times but Iâ€m still proud of myself and Iâ€ll get there one day.â€
Williams, 22, from Llanfyllin but based in Sheffield, has once again shown that she has the talent to compete with the very best at a major championship.
“This is the one tournament where Iâ€ve felt the most nervous and the most anxious,†she admitted, “so the fact that I still managed to compete at this level feeling like that – I know I can take confidence from that into other tournaments going forward.
“Iâ€ve had a really good season in regard to winning medals but getting to the final at a major is a bit special. Iâ€m glad that Iâ€ve done it twice now and hopefully in two years†time I can get the gold.â€
On Saturday, Tom Matthews (menâ€s class 1), Chris Ryan (menâ€s class 2), Martin Perry (menâ€s class 6), Theo Bishop (menâ€s class 7), Billy Shilton (menâ€s class 8) and Fliss Pickard (womenâ€s class 6) all secured bronze medals.
But there was disappointment for defending menâ€s class 7 champion Will Bayley, menâ€s class 8 world No 1 Aaron McKibbin, Joshua Stacey (menâ€s class 9), Paul Karabardak (menâ€s class 6) and Megan Shackleton (womenâ€s class 4-5), who all lost their respective quarter-finals.
Menâ€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.
“Rob is a big match player and heâ€s been here before,†said Matthews, “hopefully itâ€s me next time – I won 3-0 in the USA and now heâ€s won today. Iâ€m proud of him and proud of myself. Itâ€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.â€
Menâ€s class 2
After beating world No 5 Peter Lovas earlier, Chris Ryan produced the performance of his short career in the quarter-final to beat world No 1 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.
Chris Ryan (second from right) on the podium
“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 havenâ€t played each other since Iâ€ve been a decent level. One of the first matches I watched on YouTube was Czuper beating Lamirault (world champion Fabien Lamirault) and heâ€s inspired me to play the way I do.â€
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. Iâ€m a bit gutted because that wasnâ€t my best. Iâ€m not saying I would have won but it was a bit frustrating that I couldnâ€t play my best.
“I do feel proud – those big wins Iâ€ve had are massive learning curves for me. Right now, Iâ€m disappointed but on reflection this will be a massive week for me.â€
Menâ€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 No 2 Peter Rosenmeier.
Perry beat Rosenmeier to win gold in the ITTF World Challenger Lasko in May and it was close again, 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.
Martin Perry (right) on the podium
“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 thatâ€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 didnâ€t happen.
“Iâ€m absolutely over the moon to get another major medal. I feel Iâ€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 Iâ€m bitterly disappointed not to be in the final.â€
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.
Menâ€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 No 17 took the fourth 11-7 for a 3-1 win.
Theo Bishop secures bronze
“I think that second set was massive,†said 22-year-old Bishop. “At 10-6 up you expect to win, and I donâ€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.
“Iâ€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, Iâ€m sore now and it is hard to appreciate what Iâ€ve done but Iâ€m sure when I look back on it Iâ€ll feel very proud.â€
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 No 8 completed a 3-1 win 11-6 in the fourth.
“I was playing well in training and feeling confident,†said Bayley, “but I just didnâ€t really get going. I think the second set was important – if Iâ€d taken the second set Iâ€d have got a bit of momentum, but he played well. I didnâ€t play my best but all credit to Hansson. Iâ€ve got to use this now to fuel me to work on things that I need to work on, and I know Iâ€ll be back stronger.â€
Menâ€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 No 2 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 No 5 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.
Billy Shilton celebrates his bronze
“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 Iâ€m really disappointed, but I think in a couple of days Iâ€ll be really happy with my performance.â€
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 No 6 from France.
Menâ€s class 9
Joshua Stacey found himself 2-0 down to world No 8 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.
Womenâ€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.
Womenâ€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 No 3 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.
“Weâ€ve had some major battles in the past,†said Pickard. “She really went out there and took the game to me today and I wasnâ€t on full form but thatâ€s my own fault. At least I fought until the end and Iâ€m very disappointed right now but Iâ€m sure Iâ€ll be able to reflect and think about what a good match itâ€s been.
“Itâ€s another major medal so I can be proud of that and the journey Iâ€ve had this year. We go forward and continue to grow.â€
Womenâ€s class 7
Bly Twomey was impressive in beating Swedish world No 12 Smilla Sand 3-0 in her semi-final.
“It feels amazing to be in my first major final,†said Twomey. “Iâ€m 15-years-old and to get to a European final and beat someone who has beaten me before, Iâ€m just really proud of myself.â€
Womenâ€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.
“I canâ€t really describe my emotions right now,†said Williams. “It feels very similar to two years ago and Iâ€m very happy with that win. I lost to her earlier in the season so to come here and beat her 3-0 I canâ€t describe how I feel right now.â€
The tournament continues with the menâ€s, womenâ€s and mixed doubles events that conclude on Tuesday.
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