Twomey seals second bronze of Paris 2024

Bly Twomey believes gold is in her very bright future as she won her second table tennis bronze of Paris 2024.

The 14-year-old from Brighton saw a place in the women’s singles gold medal final slip from her grasp as she lost 3-2 to world champion Kubra Korkut of Turkey. 

Twomey had held a 2-0 lead in the semi-final encounter before her opponent fought back, clinching the decider to confirm a second bronze for Twomey after also getting on the podium in the women’s doubles. 

“I was 2-0 up, but I just fought through. She played really well and I’m disappointed that I lost but played so well,” said Twomey, who only took up table tennis in 2021. 

“I think the match changed because she just started playing better, she got used to the atmosphere and I think she played really well. 

“It means a lot to win two bronze medals at my first Paralympic Games at the age of 14 and I’m really proud to represent my country and it has been an amazing experience. 

“It gives me a lot of hope to know that I’m on the same level as them and to know that I’ve got a bronze medal. 

“It gives me a lot of confidence because I think maybe I could get a gold in the future.” 

In an atmosphere you would more expect to find at the Amex than a table tennis hall, dozens of Twomey’s family, friends and members of Brighton Table Tennis Club made themselves heard. 

‘Allez, allez, allez, Bly, Bly, Bly’ rang out around the South Paris Arena as the teenager thrived with the crowd’s support, taking the first game at the fourth time of asking. 

She added: “Brighton Table Tennis club have done a lot for me, they’ve been an amazing part of my experience. 

“Without them, I couldn’t have achieved any of this. 

“I think the crowd have supported me so much and all of them were there for me and I’m so thankful for that.” 

The youngster finally acknowledged the cheers of the crowd with a fist pump as she won eight straight points for game point and then a 2-0 lead. 

Korkut, who at 30 is over double Twomey’s age, won medals at Rio 2016 and Tokyo five years later, the first of which when Twomey was just six years old. 

Despite her experience, she took time to settle against the noise of the Twomey faithful, who cheered her on to the end as Korkut took the match with three straight games. 

Twomey will have some time to enjoy her Paralympic experience before heading back to Cardinal Newman Catholic School with confidence she was lacking only a few years ago. 

She added: “I think they’re going to be really supportive and really nice to me. They’re going to celebrate my bronze medals and be an amazing school. 

“When I first started table tennis, I wasn’t confident at all and I couldn’t really go places or big crowds because I was afraid that people might get rid of me because of my disability. 

“But now I’m here, everyone has a disability and I’m really grateful to play table tennis with people with the same disability as me.”