Torpoint table tennis star David Wetherill is in a 12-strong squad from the British Para Table Tennis Team that is competing in the Lignano Master Open in Italy, the first international tournament of the 2018 season, on Friday and Saturday.

The 28-year-old produced a great performance in the European Championships last October, taking silver in the men’s class 6 singles and combining with GB team-mates Paul Karabardak and Martin Perry to win gold in the men’s class 6 team event, and has his sights set on the World Championships later this year.

Wetherill said: ‘This winter has been a proverbial breath of fresh air to have a bit of time to not worry too much about my level and actually just focus on getting fit again.

‘I’ve had injury problems for the last two years but I feel really fit and strong and ready for Italy. At the same time I know it is the first step on the ladder for this season so I am not going in with any great expectations.

‘I know I have a good chance of doing well but I’m not really thinking about that - I’m more just looking forward to trying out some of the things I’ve been improving on over the last few months and see how that goes.

‘If it doesn’t go so well I’ve still got time over the course of the rest of the season to get better for when it really matters.

‘I’ve changed a lot of things since the Europeans so it feels like a new me coming in to this season. I feel that it is a better version but I’m not expecting things to go 100 per cent smoothly all the time – all I can do is go out there and do my best.’

Wetherill took bronze in Italy 12 months ago when Karabardak won the gold and the Welshman could once again provide his toughest opposition.

He said: ‘I approach every match with the same kind of intensity no matter who I’m playing.

‘I try to keep the same kind of mental approach and focus on my game. It would be great to meet Paul or Martin in the final in Italy but you can’t think about that – you just have to focus on each match as it comes.’