Top of the world Billy’s delight at doubles success

STONEHOUSE’S Billy Shilton produced a superb performance at the World Para Table Tennis Championships in Spain to take gold in the men’s class 14 doubles with Paul Karabardak in only their second tournament together.

In the final they beat the Thailand pair of class 6 world number three and former Paralympic champion Rungroj Thainiyom and class 8 Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri.

Karabardak and Shilton took the first two sets 11-8 11-8 but won only one point in the third set as the Thai pair fought back.

The British pair had three match points at 10-7. The first was saved but when Wangphonphathanasiri sent a backhand long Karabardak and Shilton could celebrate.

“I’m really happy,” said Shilton. “What a feeling - it is something I’ve thought about every day when I’m in the hall, something I wanted to do as a kid and to do it is so special.”

In their semi-final Shilton and Karabardak beat three-time world team champions from Spain - class 6 former World and Paralympic champion

Alvaro Valera and class 7 World champion Jordi Morale. They looked to be in control at 2-0, 5-2 but the Spanish pair, cheered on by the home supporters, used all their experience to take the third set 11-9.

At 5-4 down in the fourth, they hit back to lead 7-5 but Valera and Morales are great competitors and they fought back to level at 9-9 and had a point to take the match into a deciding set before Karabardak and Shilton pair edged it 12-10 to take the match 3-1. Shilton also won a mixed doubles bronze with Fliss Pickard after they lost their semi-final 3-0 (11-8 11-9 11-8) to the Dutch partnership of class 7 European champion and World silver medallist Jean-paul Montanus and class 7 World, Paralympic and European champion Kelly Van Zon.

“I’m disappointed with the result,” said Shilton. “I felt we had a lot of chances but on the whole it is our second tournament together and we’ve taken a bronze medal so we can be happy with that.”