A strong and experienced GB squad is heading to Thailand on the hunt for medals at the ITTF World Para Championships.

The squad includes reigning world Class 7 Men’s Singles champion Will Bayley, European champions Rob Davies and Bly Twomey, plus a collection of Paralympic, world, European and Commonwealth medallists.

For some, it will be their first experience of a Worlds, but most have already been through at least one, four years ago in Spain. We spoke to squad members at the training camp in Sheffield before they left for the Thai coastal city of Pattaya – watch the preview video in full below and look out for updates on our website during the Championships.

Bayley said of the squad: “We’ve got a good balance – I think that’s what makes this squad quite special and quite dangerous, because we have experienced players, but we have young, hungry players as well.”

Bayley is targeting his third world title, having also won in China in 2014 – a competition he looks back on as pivotal to a career which has also seen him claim Paralympic gold, in 2016.

“I think my first major medal was beating Maxim Mykolenko in the final in China in 2014,” he said. “It was one of my best memories. It was a I was 1-0, 7-1 down and managed to win that set and then win the match 3-2.

“It’s weird, isn’t it, how certain moments in careers can change your career? I think winning that title made me believe that I can go on and win other things, win Paralympic Games. That win was so important for my confidence and for my belief and it was just a special moment.”

Wales’ Rob Davies is looking to finally get his hands on a Worlds gold, having won everything else there is to win, including the 2016 Paralympic title in Men’s Class 1. He was a Worlds silver medallist in 2014.

“I don’t want to big it up too much, but yeah, I would like it,” said Davies. “It’s not the be all and end all, but it would be nice to add to the collection.

“I’ve got belief in what we’ve been doing, what we’ve been training, and got my coach back home Nathan Thomas. I think we’re doing a good job and I’m excited to get out there and see what I can do on the big stage again.”

At the other end of the scale is 16-year-old Twomey, who has become European champion and Paralympic medallist before she has even had the chance to compete at a World Championships. As ever, she is taking it all in her stride.

“I’m really excited about them,” she said. “It’s obviously my first one and I just think there’s amazing players there, and I’m really looking forward to being there and enjoying it.

“From my seeding I’m supposed to come third, but I think I’m just going to try and have fun and play to the best of my ability – leave it all on the table, really.”

Bayley & Twomey are an eye-catching doubles pair in XD14 and Bayley said: “I’m so excited to play doubles with Bly. I think she’s one of the best players in the world for her class, and I’m obviously one of the best players in the world for my class – so together we’re a really good partnership.

“Left-hander, right-hander combination, which is always helpful . . . we’ve got a really good chance.”

Twomey also plays WD14 with Fliss Pickard, with whom she won Paralympic bronze in Paris two years ago – Pickard is defending champion having won alongside Grace Williams four years ago.

Another reigning champion with a new partner is Billy Shilton, who won gold with Paul Karabardak last time out and now plays alongside Scotland’s Martin Perry.

Shilton said he takes confidence from that world title in 2022 and added: “I love these big major events, I think this is what we train for.

“I’ll try and take every match at a time. I think me and Martin have had a really good season in doubles. We’ve won three out of the five events that we’ve played. In singles, if I can bring my best level on to the table, then I have a really good chance.”

Perry, a bronze medallist in singles four years ago, said: “This year my singles has been a little bit up and down, but I feel if I can find some good form, then I can for sure be in contention for a medal there.

“Myself and Billy have had a wonderful doubles season, so we are aiming to hopefully bring back that gold medal. There’s going to be no easy matches, and the fact that it’s a straight knockout format puts the utmost pressure on every single match – so it’s not going to be easy, that’s for sure.”

Jack Hunter-Spivey and Aaron McKibbin are heading to their fourth Worlds and also aiming for medals, and both believe the squad is amongst the very best in the world.

“The squad’s in a great place at the moment,” said Hunter-Spivey, “to have so many people qualify for a World Championships when the qualification criteria is getting harder and harder.

“I think we’re really pushing the top nations now in the world and we we’re among some of the best players that there is that are playing para table tennis. As a squad on the whole, we’re doing amazing and looking forward to seeing how many medals we can bring back.”

McKibbinm a singles bronze medallist four years ago and who goes in as world No 2, added: “I think we go in as one of the nations to fear.

“Every event that we’re competing in, we’ve got a chance to medal, which is great for us as a team because I think it keeps confidence high and morale high. And it’s just good opportunities all round for us to be successful.”

The ITTF World Para Championships starts on Friday with the doubles competitions.

The full GB squad is:

Will Bayley MBE, age 37
Events: men’s class 7 singles, mixed class 14 doubles (with Bly Twomey).

Rob Davies MBE, 42
Events – men’s class 1 singles, men’s class 8 doubles (with Jack Hunter-Spivey)

Jack Hunter-Spivey, 31
Events – men’s class 4-5 singles, men’s class 8 doubles (with Rob Davies)

Tom Matthews, 33
Events – men’s class 1 singles, men’s class 4 doubles (with Chris Ryan)

Aaron McKibbin, 34
Events: men’s class 8 singles, men’s class 18 doubles (with Joshua Morizono)

Martin Perry, 32
Events – men’s class 6 singles, men’s class 14 doubles (with Billy Shilton), mixed class 14 doubles (with Grace Williams)

Felicity Pickard, 32
Events – women’s class 6 singles, women’s class 14 doubles (with Bly Twomey)

Chris Ryan, 34
Events – men’s class 2 singles, men’s class 4 doubles (with Tom Matthews)

Billy Shilton, 27
Events: men’s class 8 singles, men’s class 14 doubles (with Martin Perry)

Joshua Morizono (Stacey), 26
Events: men’s class 9 singles, men’s class 18 doubles (with Aaron McKibbin)

Bly Twomey, 16
Events: women’s class 7 singles, women’s class 14 doubles (with Fliss Pickard), mixed class 14 doubles (with Will Bayley)

Grace Williams, 23
Events: women’s class 8 singles, mixed class 14 doubles (with Martin Perry)