David Wetherill has been included in a squad of 13 athletes to represent ParalympicsGB in the table tennis events in Tokyo next month.

The 31-year-old from Torpoint won bronze in the men’s class six singles at the European Championships in 2019 as well as helping the GB team to retain the men’s class six team title and will be competing in his fourth Paralympic Games.

“I didn’t even know the Paralympics existed when I first started playing table tennis,” he said.

“It’s amazing when you grow up and you have dreams and you have targets to aim for which get you out of bed every day; it makes the tough times a lot easier having something to focus on.

“I could never have dreamed I would go to four Paralympic Games and, irrespective of what happens, that is something I can be very proud of because I have had a lot of doubts in the past year or two.

“It’s been difficult for everyone and I certainly questioned whether my body could hold together and if I would even make it, so it is almost as if I’ve achieved a massive goal already, irrespective of what happens in Tokyo.

“It is a nice feeling and takes the pressure off a little bit because I do almost have the philosophy of everything else is a bonus now, which is nice as I can enjoy it.”

Wetherill will compete in the men’s class 6 singles and the men’s class 6-7 team event.

The rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be staged from August 24 to September 5.