Rob Davies is among five Welsh players named in a 17-strong British team that will compete in the ITTF European Para Table Tennis Championships taking place in Helsingborg, Sweden from November 20-25.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medallist will be looking to win his fifth men’s class 1 European singles title, having won on four consecutive occasions from 2013-2019 and taken silver in 2023.

“I feel really positive going into this Europeans,” said the 41-year-old from Brecon, who produced his best form to take gold in the ITTF World Para Elite Yvelines in France last month. “I’ve got a good support team behind me and I’m excited to go out there now. I’m enjoying training and I’m enjoying playing again and that’s all I wanted really. Winning in France definitely gives me confidence; it’s always nice to get a gold and I haven’t had one for quite a while now – it was lovely to be at the top of the podium again.”

Davies paid tribute to the late British Para Table Tennis Performance Director Gorazd Vecko MBE, who passed away last month.

“It’s very sad," he said. "Gorazd has been unbelievable for the squad since he came in and we’re going to fight for every point at the Europeans and we’re going to be doing it for ‘Big G’. For me the Europeans are special. I’ve won a few now and it is always the pinnacle that I want to be at my best for, and nothing has changed in that regard. I want to put a marker down and play well - I just want to do my best and if you can do your best on the table that’s all you can do.”

Davies’ opposition will include teammate and fellow Welshman Tom Matthews, who took bronze at the Europeans in 2023 and came out on top when the pair met in the USA in August.