GB Para Table Tennis Team Pathway Squad member Martin Perry took part in an exhibition match in Brazil earlier this month that was televised live to an estimated audience of around 5 million to promote the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.

The 19 year old from Paisley was invited by the Brazilian Table Tennis Federation to play a match against fellow class 6 player Luis Medina in the city of Jaraguá do Sul and the experience has fuelled his ambition to represent GB in Rio in 2016.

“It was a great experience,” said Perry, “and great to be a part of such an exciting event. The playing facilities were of a good standard and being in that environment with the big crowds and the TV cameras has definitely made me want to go back even more and compete on an even bigger scale in Rio! It was fantastic to be given such an opportunity and more importantly one that I’ve learned so much from. The learning experiences throughout the game are invaluable; we all want to progress our game and we want to learn more and improve all the time and I feel Brazil has definitely helped my understanding of what I need to do to get to the top of my game and remain there for as long as possible.”

The match in Jaraguá do Sul is one of a series of events involving the GB Para Table Tennis Team designed to promote the Paralympic Games in Brazil. On May 24 London 2012 bronze medalist Aaron McKibbin will play an exhibition match in Fortalizi against Erick Higa from Brazil, which will also be shown live on Brazilian television.