The funding increase for Para Table Tennis announced earlier this week by UK Sport has provided a significant boost for the GB Para Table Tennis Team, rewarding its recent success and also recognising the potential within the squad.

Brecon athlete Rob Davies, who became European champion and world number one in 2013, has moved from Podium Potential to the Podium programme and there is now funding available for a further two places on the Podium Potential programme, which will give two of the team’s most promising young players currently in the Pathway squad the opportunity to train and compete regularly with the Performance squad, and increase the number of players in the Performance squad from 12 to 14.

GB Para Table Tennis Performance Director, Gorazd Veck, said: “Since London 2012 we have had some great results, including eight medals at last year’s European Championships. We have also identified and developed some very talented young players who are now starting to compete internationally and we are very grateful to UK Sport for showing that they have faith, not only in our current Performance squad players but also in our Pathway programme.

“While our main focus is Rio in 2016 the majority of the players currently in the Pathway and Development Squads are under the age of 16, providing the team with huge potential for the Paralympic Games in 2016, 2020 and beyond.”

The two players that will be selected to join the Podium Potential programme will be announced later this month.

Written by Francesca Bullock (February 7, 2014)