GB Para Table Tennis Team Prepares for World Championships with France Training Trip

The Great Britain Para Table Tennis team has announced a 12-player squad for the ITTF World Para Elite event in Yvelines, France from September 12-16, as a final tune-up before the World Championships in Thailand this November. Interim Performance Director Shaun Marples stated that the event provides valuable match practice against top opponents while also improving world rankings and seeding for the major tournament. World champion Will Bayley (class 7) and European champion Rob Davies (class 1) headline the squad, alongside emerging talents like Bly Twomey (class 7) and Billy Shilton (class 8), showcasing a blend of experience and youth. Marples emphasized the importance of the summer training camp in Sheffield and the France event as the last competitive outing before the Worlds. The team's reliance on veteran champions Bayley and Davies remains a strategic focus, but developing younger players is essential for long-term depth. With strong competition from China, Germany, and Japan, GB's preparation is critical. The France tournament serves both as a ranking booster and a real test of form, with immediate implications for World Championships seeding.