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British Para Table Tennis launches search for future stars

In the same week that some performance squad athletes return to the training hall for the first time since March, British Para Table Tennis (BPTT) is launching a new initiative to find new players who have the potential to become future Paralympians. 

British Para Table Tennis player Josh Stacey playing match

The online recruitment scheme – BPTT Future Stars, is supported by all home nations and key partners as they look towards the Paralympic Games 2021 and Commonwealth Games in 2022. 

In addition to its 16-strong performance squad, British Para Table Tennis team has a successful Pathway programme. Since it began in 2013, it has produced a number of players who have won medals at major championships. This includes World medallists Fliss Pickard and Tom Matthews, Commonwealth medallist Josh Stacey, European medallist Billy Shilton, European team champion Martin Perry and World and European team medallist Megan Shackleton.

BPTT Pathway Manager, Shaun Marples said: 

"The pathway, development and futures squads are all in place, and this is a way to try and recruit people online. I am hoping that table tennis clubs and other organisations can get behind it in terms of bringing in new people. Once the lockdown period is lifted we will arrange an open day at our team training base in Sheffield to see them play and go through the classification process with them. We can then direct them towards the next step."

The initial application process includes a questionnaire designed to assess eligibility for Para table tennis. It is one of the most inclusive Paralympic sports, catering for wheelchair and ambulant athletes who have a physical impairment and people with a learning disability.

The BPTT classification team is made up of two technical and two medical experts. Every month they will review applications received to confirm eligibility. Athletes who are eligible will be given guidance as to which class to enter when competing in their first domestic competition. Athletes who aren’t deemed eligible at this stage will still be invited to Sheffield at a later date, when a more thorough observation will take place.

Shaun Marples continues:

"It is about people who have table tennis experience but also are potentially new to the sport and creating an opportunity for them. We are looking for people who are dedicated, love the sport and want to learn more about it. For those who want to find a club we want to be able to signpost them in the right way and we also want to find the future star with the qualities needed to become a professional athlete.
"Table tennis for me is a very unique sport. You can enjoy it both individually and as a team and I think the one thing that we have in British Para table tennis is a really strong family structure. We are looking at creating as many opportunities as possible for people to gain life skills and improve as a table tennis player and hopefully go on to become a future Paralympic champion.
"We are constantly working with young athletes through our Pathway programme and in my role we are hoping that this is the next step behind that. Looking at 2028 and beyond we are hoping that Future Stars will help to unearth new talent and recruit athletes who will be part of BPTT and have that journey to those future Paralympic Games."

Visit BPTT Future Stars website for more information and details on how to register your interest. 

Photo credit: British Para Table Tennis