Paralympic Dream Still Alive for Shilton and Karabardak
British table tennis duo Billy Shilton and Paul Karabardak kept their Paralympic gold medal hopes alive after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Brazil’s Para Panamerican silver medalists Paulo Salmin and Israel Stroh in the men’s class 14 quarterfinal. However, there was heartbreak for the team of Will Bayley and Martin Perry, who narrowly lost a tense 3-2 match against the European champions from France.
Shilton and Karabardak Bounce Back
Shilton and Karabardak, the reigning World champions in their class, started slowly and dropped the first set 11-7 but bounced back to take the second 11-9. The crucial third set saw the British pair recover from a 9-5 deficit to win it 11-9, before sealing the match with an 11-5 triumph in the fourth set.
“To win that match, we had to be on top,” said Karabardak. “The slow start made it really hard, but we regrouped and played the way we needed to. We held our nerve and did what was required in the end – we focused really well, and it was a performance we can be proud of.”
Shilton added, “It was massive to win the third set. At 9-9, I knew I had to receive the ball short to Stroh’s forehand, and that proved to be the turning point.”
Semifinal Showdown
In the semifinal, Shilton and Karabardak will face Rungroj Thainiyom and Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri from Thailand, whom they defeated to win the World title two years ago.
“I don’t think we’ve finished yet,” said Shilton. “We genuinely believe we can win gold. We’re one of the best teams in the world, and we have another opportunity to prove it tomorrow.”
Karabardak echoed these sentiments, stating, “It’s the biggest stage, and to have another Paralympic medal would be really special. It’s the ultimate achievement for an athlete.”
Coach Andrew Rushton expressed his pride and confidence in his players, saying, “We’re not just content with bronze – these two boys are world champions, and they can beat anybody. We’ve got to go in there believing that and go for gold.”
Bayley and Perry’s Valiant Effort
In the other quarterfinal, Bayley and Perry put up a spirited fight against the European champions and second seeds Clement Berthier and Esteban Herrault from France. Despite being 2-0 down, the British pair clawed their way back to level the match at 2-2, but ultimately fell short in the deciding set, losing 11-9.
“We never gave up,” said a disappointed Bayley. “The quality of our shots was so high, and we really believed we could win. It was just one of those matches that could have gone either way.”
Perry praised the atmosphere and their team’s resilience, saying, “The crowd was amazing, and we showed the characters that we are. We played exceptionally well to get back to 2-2, and we always believed in each other.”
The table tennis action continues at the Paralympic Games, with Shilton and Karabardak aiming to secure the elusive Paralympic gold medal, while Bayley and Perry can take pride in their valiant effort against the European champions.
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