Sixteen-year-old David Wetherill, the Great Britain disabled table tennis player, continues to shine in national and international competitions. Last week he competed in Disability Sport England Table Tennis Championships at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre. David, who is class six disabled – the most severely disabled standing athlete – played in the class six- eight singles. He won both his matches in the group stages in straight sets. In the semi-final he played Adam Fountain (class eight), winning 11-7, 11-8, 11-3. He then played Chris Raynor (class eight) winning 11-7, 11-8, 11-3 to take the gold medal. With his partner Chris Cattell, he reached the final of the doubles competition, the game going to five sets. David and Chris lost 9-11 in the final game, winning the silver medal. David is currently ranked 33 in the world and last month played in the four-day second German Open 2006 at Wuppertal. In the class seven team event, David and his Great Britain partner Paul Karabardak – ranked 12 in class seven – reached the quarter-finals, playing against teams from Malaysia, Ukraine and USA. In the class six singles, David qualified through the group stages, meeting Pieter Du Plooy, South Africa – world 16 class six – winning the match 4-11, 11 -6, 11-6, 11-8. In the semi final he played Carlo di Franco Michell, Brazil (world nine, class six) winning 11-6, 11-3, 14-12. He was up against the world number one Daniel Arnold, Germany, in the final, losing 5-11, 5-11, and 7-11. David said: 'This was a four-day international ranking tournament and for me, personally, it was a useful prelude to the world championships later this month in Switzerland. 'It was not only for quality match practice, but also for building confidence. 'I feel I dramatically improved as the tournament went on, demonstrated by my performance in reaching the final of the class six singles. It was far beyond any of my expectations.' David received a 'wild card' entry, due to his improving performances over the last 12 months. He is now supported by the Great Britain Paralympic Committee on their fast-track scheme, in expectations of him competing in the London 2012 Paralympics. David is hoping he may make the Beijing 2008 Paralympics. He now uses the training facilities at Plymouth University and regularly has to travel to Sheffield for Great Britain team training. There is a small band of fund-raisers working hard to help him fulfil his aims.