Henry and Thakker join BPTT Performance squad

Young British Para table tennis athletes Ryan Henry and Shae Thakker have been rewarded for their recent progress by moving from the Pathway squad to join the BPTT Performance squad.

Henry, 24, from Ardrossan put his university degree on hold in 2022 to move to Sheffield to train full time with the British squad. He has made steady progress since making his international debut in 2016, taking singles bronze and doubles silver in the European Para Youth Games in 2022 and silver in the men’s class 8 singles at the US Para Open in 2023.

“Ryan has been training really hard, and it’s been great to see him move to Sheffield and train more regularly with the team,” said BPTT Programme manager and Pathway squad manager Shaun Marples. “Ryan has steadily progressed up the rankings in the past 12 months and has had some good wins and performances against players in the top 20 of his class.  Moving into the Performance squad will give him even more opportunity to progress further, with access to the athlete support team in Sheffield as well as allowing him to become a full-time athlete.”

Thakker, 21, from Denham in Buckinghamshire also trains full time with the British squad and is currently combining his table tennis with studying for a Masters in sport and exercise psychology at Sheffield Hallam University. Having made his international debut at the age of 12 he won gold in the men’s class 10 singles at the Romania Junior Open two years later and won gold in the men’s class 10 singles at the European Universities Games in 2022, beating the Polish World number 7 and European bronze medallist Igor Misztal. Last year he won his first senior international title, taking gold in the men’s class 10 singles at the French Para Open.

“Shae is currently doing his Masters at Sheffield Hallam University,” said Marples, “and also moved to Sheffield to access training around his studies. He has managed this really well over the past years and in October last year, won his first ITTF F20 competition, beating players around the top 10 in the world. He’s a great player and this promotion gives him an opportunity to focus on building on his training programme and establish himself higher up the rankings in class 10.”

Henry and Thakker will focus this year on selection for the European Championships in November with a long-term aim of qualification for the Paralympic Games in 2028.