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

The Great Britain Paralympic table tennis team has officially announced its 12-player squad for the ITTF World Para Elite Yvelines in France, held from September 12 to 16, 2026. This is a crucial warm-up ahead of the World Para Championships in Thailand in November. Leading the team are two global para table tennis icons: Will Bayley – world champion in class 7 singles, and Rob Davies – reigning European champion in class 1. The squad also includes familiar names such as Jack Hunter-Spivey (class 4), Joshua Stacey (class 8), Billy Shilton (class 8), and promising young talent Bly Twomey (class 7), a 15-year-old female athlete. Interim Performance Director Shaun Marples stated, 'This is the final opportunity for the team to get quality match practice before the most important tournament of the year. Our summer training camp in Sheffield was very effective, and now the athletes will compete in real conditions. The goal in France is not only immediate results but also to improve rankings and seeding for Thailand.' Table Tennis England confirmed the squad has completed a two-week training camp in Sheffield with positive feedback. The ITTF World Para Elite Yvelines is an elite-level event that, while awarding fewer points than the World Championships, plays a key role in determining seedings. The blend of veterans and youth is notable: Bayley (37) and Davies (46) represent experience, while Twomey and Shilton bring fresh energy. However, concerns exist about over-reliance on these veterans, especially given injury risks in para sports. The preparation strategy is clear: intensive training, participation in the elite event, then the World Championships. This is a sound approach, though detailed recent performance data is missing. GB Para Table Tennis remains one of the strongest non-Asian teams, particularly in low classes. The upcoming France tournament will be a critical test before the World Championships in Thailand.