Martin Perry backed up a brace of bronze medals from his trip to Spain with an impressive silver haul in France.
The Paisley para table tennis star improved on his recent showing at the Costa Brava Spanish Open with a single’s silver at the French Para Open in Saint Quentin en Yvelines this week, as well as bagging another double’s bronze.
His run to the single’s final included an enjoyable 3-1 win over Kazuki Shichino, the Japanese player who beat Perry in their crucial World Qualification Tournament quarter-final which crushed his hopes of making the Tokyo Paralympics.
Unfortunately for Perry he couldn’t topple Esteban Herrault in the gold decider, with the Frenchman edging past the Scot, just as he did in the semi-finals of the Spanish Open, with a 3-1 victory on home soil.
Perry told Express Sport: “It was a bit of personal redemption against Shichino, who ended my chances of going to Tokyo in the qualification tournament when I lost 11-9 in the fifth.
“I played really well to come through that match 3-1.
“I lost to Esteban a couple of weeks ago in Spain, so I knew what the tactics were going to be going into the match.
“But I’ve got to give him credit. I thought he played exceptionally well and his forehand just wasn’t missing.
“It was a very tight final and we both played some good stuff.
“I’m disappointed not to bring home the gold, especially after being the number one seed, but Esteban had a lot of home support and all credit to him.”
