A DUMBARTON table tennis star is racking up the air miles in is bid to qualify for the sport’s world championships.

Fresh from winning bronze in the men’s class 14 doubles and reaching the quarter-finals of the men’s class six singles in the Para Copa Tango in Argentina last weekend, Martin Perry competed in the Thailand Para Open tournament in Pattaya from July 18-21.

Reflecting on a busy spell before he played the match, the 28-year-old said: “I don’t think I played my best in Argentina overall in singles and doubles, but it was a good warm up for Thailand and I’ve taken some notes of what I want to do in terms of how I want to play and how I want to approach matches.

Table tennis star Martin Perry is aiming high. Image by Manca Meglic

Table tennis star Martin Perry is aiming high. Image by Manca Meglic

“As much as the journey going from Buenos Aires to Pattaya is going to be a long one and it’s going to be challenging, I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

Martin lives with congenital limb loss and deformity, meaning he was born with no hands and only one leg – but he continues to overcome all the challenges before him.

In April 2017 Martin won his first national title in the men’s class six singles and was promoted to the GB Performance Squad.

He was part of the team that won gold in the men’s class six team event at the European Championships in 2017 and went on to retain the title in 2019.

He started playing table tennis at the age of 17 thanks to help from Scottish Disability Sport and Drumchapel Table Tennis Club in Glasgow.

Martin continued: “I enjoy having a challenge in front of me and hopefully rising to it.

“As always there is something on the line and I’ll be in Thailand trying to qualify for the World Championships so there are definitely going to be some fiery matches and hopefully something positive at the end of it.”