Silver medals for Fliss Pickard in women’s class 6, Rob Davies in men’s class 1 and Joshua Stacey in men’s class 9 were the highlights for the British Para Table Tennis team in the singles events at the ITTF World Para Challenger Lignano in Italy, with Aaron McKibbin taking bronze in men’s class 8.

Women’s Class 6

Fliss Pickard (pictured above) lost her opening match to 2020 Paralympic champion and reigning world champion Maryna Lytovchenko from Ukraine in three very close sets but progressed from her group after fighting back from 2-1 down to beat the two-time Asian Championships bronze medalist Pang Wing Ka of Hong Kong 3-2.

Pickard continued her strong form in the knockout stages, winning 3-0 against two-time European silver medalist Antonina Khodzynskaya from Ukraine in the quarter-finals and 3-0 against Gabriela Constantin from Romania in the semi-finals to book herself a place in the final and a rematch against Lytovchenko. The Ukrainian again proved just too strong and was a 3-0 winner.

“I had a tough group but definitely won my battles mentally,” said Pickard. “I was really happy with my fight this tournament. I never gave up and stuck to what I believed in. That’s always been my motto, and it got me to the final.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed I didn’t walk away with a gold, but there are a lot of positives to take away. Lytovchenko played really well, and I can’t fault her in any way. With Andrew (Andrew Rushton, head coach) and the team back home, I know there is so much more we can do to come back fighting in the next competition.”

Men’s Class 1

European champion Rob Davies started his tournament with a close 3-2 win over the European silver medallist Federico Falco from Italy, taking the fifth set 11-8. He then recovered from dropping the first set against Riito Shikai of Japan to take the match 3-1 and top his group.

Davies was a convincing 3-0 winner against the two-time Pan American silver medalist from Argentina Guillermo Jose Bustamante Sierra to secure a place in the semi-final. He then faced Dmitrii Lavrov, who is competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete, and took the first set 11-3. Lavrov fought back, taking the second set before Davies showed his experience, winning the next two sets 11-7 to take him into the final against the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic silver medalist Kim Hyeon Uk. The Welshman found himself 2-0 down and although he fought back to take the third set the world No 2 from the Republic of Korea took the fourth 11-7 to take the gold.

“It’s been a good tournament,” said Davies. “I’m happy with the end result. Being my first tournament of the year, it was good to get into some battles, especially with Federico Falco. I was really just trying to get into the tournament and get stuck in.

“I’ve got a lot to go back home and work on, but I’ve got a big year going forward, so I’m just keeping positive. I’ve already qualified for the World Championships at the end of the year, so I’m just trying to get my seeding as high as possible for that.”

Men’s Class 9

Joshua Stacey faced Argentinian Eithan Skliarsky in his opening match, where he showed his strong attacking style in a 3-0 win. He found himself 1-0, 8-3 down to three-time European bronze medalist Juan Bautista Perez from Spain but changed his tactics and took control of the match, winning the next three sets to secure first place in the group. He received a bye through to the quarter-finals, where he beat Jan Reinig from Germany 3-0.

In the semi-finals, Stacey faced Paralympic silver medalist Lucas Didier and produced a great performance to beat the Frenchman 3-1. That took him through to the final against the European silver and Paralympic bronze medalist Ander Cepas. The Spaniard started the game strongly, winning the first set 11-6 and although Stacey took the second 11-8 and continued to show his strong attacking capabilities Cepas took the match 3-1.

“I think I played positively in the groups,” said Stacey. “I did well to come back against Perez; I was down in two sets rather heavily, and to manage to come through them put me in good standing for the tournament. I feel like there is still a lot to work on and improve on, but there is still a lot to be happy about. Whenever I’m down, I try to think about what I can change and always try to be present in the point and not get lost in the match.”

Men’s Class 8

Aaron McKibbin started his tournament off strongly, winning his group without dropping a set against Aleksej Radukic from Serbia and Vit Spalek from Czechia. He took the first set against Hayuma Abe and although the world No 2 from Japan levelled at 1-1 McKibbin then showed his power, taking the next two sets to win 3-1 and progress through to the quarter-finals.

He led European silver medalist Emil Andersson 2-1 before the Swedish player edged the fourth set 13-11, taking the match to the fifth. McKibbin quickly established a 5-1 lead and maintained this cushion throughout the set, taking it 11-7 for a 3-2 win. In the semi-final he faced Paralympic bronze medallist Maksym Nikolenko and took a close first set 12-10. The Ukrainian world No 4 came back to level at 1-1 and edged the next two sets 13-11 12-10 for a 3-1 win.

“It’s been a good start to the year,” said McKibbin. “I had some really hard matches. I won against the world No 2 in the last 16, which was a great win, and I came through a really tight match in the quarter-finals against Emil Anderson. Losing to Maksym Nikolenko was tough, but the match was really good, and I think I played quite well. That’s how it goes sometimes. I’m really enjoying playing at the moment, and I’m happy to be back here fit and looking forward to the year.”

Billy Shilton was a convincing 3-0 winner against Stefano Butti from Italy and booked his place in the last 16 by beating the Spaniard Alejandro Diaz in straight sets. He was drawn against U23 Paralympic Youth champion Ludovico Bini of Italy, who edged the first set 12-10 before Shilton responded by taking the second 11-5. The next two sets were close but Bini edged them both for a 3-1 win.

Women’s Class 4-5

Megan Shackleton started her tournament with a straight sets win over Turkey’s Merve Sefa Ozsu before facing three-time Paralympic bronze medalist Jung Young A from the Republic of Korea, who showed her experience to win 3-0 in a well-fought contest. Shackleton then faced Slovenian Andreja Dolinar, fighting back after losing the first set to take a 2-1 lead. Dolinar responded by winning the fourth set to take the match into a decider. Shackleton saved two match points before edging the set 12-10 taking her into the quarter-finals where she lost 3-0 against the European silver medalist and world No 5 Irem Oluk from Turkey.

Women’s Class 7

Bly Twomey lost her opening group match to the 2025 Pan American silver medalist Aline Meneses Ferreira from Brazil and then retired due to injury after the second set of her match against Kubra Korkut from Turkey.

Men’s Class 2

Chris Ryan started strongly with a 3-1 win against the 2023 European bronze medallist Oleksandr Yezyk of Ukraine before beating the Brazilian world No 8 Guilherme Marciao da Costa in straight sets. Ryan finished top of his group after continuing his strong form with a 3-1 win against Dirk Kretzschmar of Switzerland, giving him a bye through to the quarter-finals. He lost a tight first set against Daniel Rodriguez 15-13 and the world No 6 from Spain went on to take the next two sets 11-1 11-9 for a 3-0 win.

Men’s Class 3

Neil Robinson lost his opening match to the Asian Championships bronze medalist Baek Youngbok from the Republic of Korea 3-0 and did not progress after a 3-0 loss to Yorick Adjal from France.

Men’s Class 4-5

Jack Hunter-Spivey started strongly with a commanding 3-0 win over Asian Youth Para Games silver medalist Rishit Nathwani from India and then lost 3-0, 14-12 in the third to David Olsson of Sweden, meaning Hunter-Spivey progressed from his group in second place.

In the round of 16, he faced 2025 Pan American bronze medallist Lucas Carvalhal. The Brazilian started the game strongly, winning the first two sets 11-9 11-6 but Hunter-Spivey fought back, saving three match points in the third set before taking it 14-12. He then took the fourth set to level the match at 2-2 but Carvalhal took the deciding set for a 3-2 win.

Men’s Class 6

Dan Thomson’s opening group match was against two-time World and Paralympic champion Peter Rosenmeier and although he played well the skill and experience shown by the Danish world No 2 meant he took the match 3-0. Thomson progressed to the quarter-finals after his next opponent, the Egyptian Medhat Aboulkhair withdrew, and he again showed his potential despite a 3-0 loss to world No 3 Bobi Simion of Romania.

Men’s Class 7

Theo Bishop led Michal Deigsler 2-1 before the world No 7 from Poland tipped the fourth his way 11-9. The final set was taken by Bishop 11-7 to give him a 3-2 win. In his final group match he found himself 2-0 down to the experienced Pavao Jozic from Croatia and after saving two match points he edged the third set 14-12 before taking the fourth and fifth sets 11-2 11-6 for another fifth-set win.

Bishop was given a bye in the round of 16 and faced Kevin Dourbecker in the quarter-final. Again, Bishop found himself on the back foot as he trailed 2-1 and although he fought back to level at 2-2 the former European bronze medallist from France took the final set 11-3.

The tournament continues with the doubles events that conclude on Saturday.