Bayley takes second gold in USA

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Will Bayley followed up his win in the ITTF World Para Challenger Spokane last week by taking gold in the men’s class 7 at the ITTF World Para Elite Spokane in Washington State, USA. Fellow Brighton-based athlete Bly Twomey took bronze in women’s class 7.

Will Bayley beat Liao Keli from China to take men's class 7 singles gold in the ITTF World Para Elite Spokane in the USA | Richard London ITTF

placeholder image — Will Bayley beat Liao Keli from China to take men's class 7 singles gold in the ITTF World Para Elite Spokane in the USA | Richard London ITTF

Bayley began with a 3-0 win against Paulo Salmin, the former five-time Para Pan American champion and World bronze medallist from Brazil and was then a 3-0 winner against Matthew Britz, the Oceania Para champion from New Zealand. He secured top position in his group with a 3-0 win against Christian Scheiber from Austria and progressed to the final with a 3-1 win against world number eight Claudio Bahamondes, the Para Pan American silver medallist from Chile.

That set up a repeat of last week’s Challenger final against Keli Liao, the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic bronze medallist from China. Bayley was quick out of the blocks taking the first set 11-6 and raced into a 7-1 lead in the second before taking it 11-6. At 4-2 down in the third set Liao took a time out but it made no difference and Bayley took the set 11-5 to complete an impressive 3-0 win.

“Very happy with that,” said Bayley. “Keli is a world class player, and he’s had a really good few tournaments so I’m pleased to win. I felt very sharp and did all the basics well – I think it was one of my best performances of the season and I was very happy to win more points on receive than I did on my own serve. To win two tournaments here back-to-back, I’m proud of that.”

Twomey secured her place in the semi-finals as group winner with a 3-0 win against Josie Jackson from the USA and a 3-1 win against world number eight Aline Meneses Ferreira, the Para Pan American silver medallist from Brazil. Having beaten Jiang Shan last week, it was the Chinese athlete who proved the stronger this time, winning in three close sets.

“It was always going to be a tough match for me,” said Twomey, “and I think I played some decent table tennis. The Chinese in general are great players, and I think she got the best of me in this match. I’m really happy to get another medal here but also disappointed as I really wanted to have another chance to play Lacerda (Brazilian world number one Lethicia Lacerda).”