Twomey takes bronze after five-set semi-final battle with World champion

Bly Twomey won the hearts of the French crowd at the South Paris Arena 4 in Paris this morning with a performance that was full of skill and determination and came close to beating the World and European champion Kubra Korkut in a five-set women’s class 7 semi-final.

The 14-year-old from Brighton had already made history by becoming the youngest table tennis medallist at a Paralympic Games when she took bronze in the women’s class 14 doubles with Fliss Pickard, and she now has a bronze in the singles as well.

Twomey had beaten Korkut in the Slovenia Open in another five-set thriller earlier this year. On that occasion she came from two sets down to win deuce in the fifth but today she made a brilliant start, taking the first set 11-9. Cheered on by her own ‘Barmy Army’ from Brighton TTC she then fought back from 6-2 down to take the second 11-7. At that point the World number two from Turkey used all her experience to change her tactics and she started to pressure her young opponent into errors. Having won the third set 11-6 she took the fourth 11-5 to level the match and although Twomey fought for every point, and saved two match points Korkut secured the set 11-5 and the match 3-2.

“The atmosphere was amazing,” said Twomey. “Brighton table tennis club have been so brilliant in supporting me all the way. I think it was amazing to be out there and just show who I am and show that you can do anything at the age of 14.

“At 2-0 up I just wanted to keep playing my game, but she changed things up – where she was playing the ball. That changed the game, and she played really well.

“It’s my first Paralympic Games and it was just amazing to be out there and playing my game. She is World champion, and she’s won a lot of tournaments and to get to a fifth with her was amazing.”

Three-time Paralympic champion Kelly van Zon was among those to congratulate Twomey on her performance at these Games and told her, ‘your time will come’.

“It means a lot to know that the World number one thinks I will go far in life and I’ll get the gold medal one day,” said Twomey. “It means a lot to hear that from her and I’m just really proud of myself for getting two bronze medals.”