Bayley and Karabardak win ParalympicsGB's seventh Tokyo table tennis medal

Will Bayley revelled in his sixth career Games medal as he and Paul Karabardak won class 6-7 team silver for ParalympicsGB’s seventh table tennis medal of Tokyo 2020.

The British duo lost out 2-0 to China’s Yan Shuo and Liao Keli in the gold-medal match but still take home silver, with both adding to their respective individual medals in the competition.

The second game of the doubles match proved decisive, with Bayley and Karabardak pushing hard, only to narrowly go down 12-10.

A straight games defeat in the doubles, 11-7, 12-10, 11-2, meant no room for error in the singles.

Bayley, Paralympic singles champion at Rio 2016, started well by taking the first game 11-7.

But Yan, who had beaten him in the singles final earlier in the week in Tokyo, fought back to win a thrilling battle 3-1, confirming the silver medal for ParalympicsGB.

Team and individual honours at each of London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 means Bayley now has six Paralympic medals to his name.

He said: “We had our chances but we didn’t take them and you have to take those chances especially against China.

“To win this medal with my best friend Paul it makes it all the more special. I’m so happy.

“What he has overcome in his life is extraordinary and I think his win against Valera (in the semi-final) is probably the best moment of my whole career.

“I’ve won singles gold but that was the best moment of my career, so thank you to Paul for doing that for me, because it is a moment I will never forget.”

The British pair reached the final after a thrilling 2-1 win over Spain in the semi-final but were unable to repeat their heroics against the Chinese pair.

Karabardak added: “I think we had our chances and we played well but they just had a bit too much for us in key areas.

“They are very strong and they move very well and I think we were a little short and that told the difference.”