Bayley and Davies lead GB squad to France as World Para Championships preparation steps up

Great Britain's para table tennis team has announced a 12-athlete squad for the ITTF World Para Elite Yvelines in France from September 12-16, 2026. The event is seen as the final competitive preparation before the World Para Championships in November in Thailand. The most prominent names in the squad are Will Bayley – world champion in class 7 – and Rob Davies – reigning European champion in class 1. Both have been mainstays of the British team for years. Alongside them are young talents such as Bly Twomey (class 7 women) and Billy Shilton (class 8 men), showing a blend of experience and youth. Interim Performance Director Shaun Marples said: 'The trip to France provides valuable match practice for the whole squad. This is the last time we can compete before the World Championships. The goal is to improve rankings and seeding, and to help players get used to international competition pressure.' The team completed a summer training camp in Sheffield with positive feedback. According to Marples, 'The atmosphere at camp was very good, the athletes worked hard. I have confidence in their preparation.' Full GB squad: men – Will Bayley, Rob Davies, Jack Hunter-Spivey, Billy Shilton, Joshua Stacey, Tom Matthews, Aaron McKibbin; women – Grace Williams, Bly Twomey, Fliss Pickard, Megan Shackleton, Rachel D'Arcy. Athletes will compete in classes 1 through 9. The World Para Championships in Bangkok, Thailand in November is the most important event of the year in para table tennis. Great Britain has already qualified and aims to compete for medals. Performance in France will be a key indicator for their ambitions. Led by experienced veterans and complemented by young talents, the British team is showing thorough preparation. However, the pressure falls heavily on Bayley and Davies as the main medal hopes. The development of newcomers like Twomey and Shilton will be key to easing this burden. Experts note that the France event does not determine qualification, but will greatly affect seeding in Bangkok. A good result in France could help British paddlers avoid strong opponents in the early rounds. Currently, the team is fully focused on the immediate goal. British para table tennis fans can expect an impressive performance in France, setting the stage for greater success at the World Championships.