Will Bayley and Rob Davies headed for a 13-person GB Paralympic table tennis team

Bayley was involved in one of the distinguishing moments of the Brazilian Games five years ago when he stood at the table above the arms of his dramatic victory over home favorite Israel Pereira Stroh.

The 33-year-old demanded knee reconstruction last year after tearing the front of the cross when he practiced the TV show Strictly Come Dancing in October 2019.

“It means everything to me to compete in my country – representing GB is what I live and where I train every day, I get extra energy and run to go to those moments because I know these opportunities don’t happen very often,” he said in a statement.

“I play the best table tennis of my career, so I know this is a great opportunity for me and I want to show people what I can do.

“I feel like I have a lot to prove as an athlete – I still don’t feel like I’ve achieved everything I can achieve, so I’m excited to try it.”

Sue Bailey, formerly Gilroy, will compete in her sixth game, while Paul Karabardak, David Wetherill, Ashley Facey Thompson and Jack Hunter-Spivey are also returning to the Paralympics.

Debuts from Tom Matthews, Megan Shackleton, Billy Shilton and Joshua Stacey complete their team.

Table tennis team leader Gorazd Vecko said: “After all the challenges of the last 18 months, I am so proud to have 13 athletes to represent the ParalympicsGB in Tokyo.

“Our athletes have been training hard and we are fully focused on making the country proud in Tokyo.”