Tough test ahead for GB Team in Italy

Sue Gilroy 1The GB Para Table Tennis Team faces its first big test of 2015 at this week’s Lignano Master Open in Italy, the first factor 40 tournament of the season that starts on Wednesday. Paul Karabardak and teenagers Megan Shackleton and Billy Shilton, gold medalists from last weekend’s Hungarian Open, are among the 13 strong squad that also includes World silver medalist Sue Gilroy.

GB Performance Director Gorazd Vecko is hoping to build on the successful start to the season in Hungary.

“The Lignano Master Open is always a tough competition,” he said, “and with the exception of the Chinese most of the top players in the world will be there. We will be without Will Bayley and Rob Davies who are both recovering from minor injuries but we have some talented young players and Italy will show us where we stand against the rest of the world and how much work we need to do before the European Championships in October.”

The players representing GB at the Lignano Master Open are:

GB Performance Squad:
Jane Campbell (London) - Class 3
Kim Daybell (Sheffield/Leeds) - Class 10
Ashley Facey Thompson (London/Sheffield) - Class 9
Sue Gilroy (Barnsley) - Class 4
Sara Head (Bedwyn) - Class 3
Jack Hunter-Spivey (Liverpool/Sheffield) - Class 5
Paul Karabardak (Swansea) - Class 6
Aaron McKibbin (London/Sheffield) - Class 8
Megan Shackleton (Todmorden) - Class 4
Ross Wilson (Minster/Sheffield) - Class 8

GB Pathway Squad:
Tom Matthews (Aberdare) - Class 1
Martin Perry (Paisley) - Class 6
Billy Shilton (Stonehouse) - Class 7

Follow the GB Para Table Tennis Team on Twitter @gbparatt