Tunbridge Wells Paralympian Will Bayley beaten by Thailand’s Chalermpong Punpoo in Final of Singapore Smash

Tunbridge Wells Paralympian Will Bayley had to settle for silver in the Para men’s singles at the Singapore Smash - but has vowed to bounce back.

The inaugural Para showcase at the Smash, one of the leading events in world table tennis, featured 21 of the best players in men’s and women’s classes 6 and 7 - 12 men and nine women.

World No.1 Bayley came through his group with 3-0 wins against Marios Chatzikyriakos from Greece and two former Paralympic champions in Stephane Messi from France and Rungroj Thainiyom from Thailand.

He took on world No.3 and two-time European champion Jean-Paul Montanus from Netherlands in the Semi-Final - a repeat of the European Championship Final last September - and it was Bayley who came out on top again in a 3-1 win.

However the Final proved a step too far for Bayley, who found himself 2-0 down against Chalermpong Punpoo and, although he took the third set 11-5, the world No.7 from Thailand, gold medallist in the US Open in January, took the fourth 11-7 for a 3-1 win.

“He’s always been a top 10 player,” said Bayley, “and if you’re not on it in sport you can lose.

“I had a slow start in the Final and didn’t get going until the third set and left myself with lots to do.

“I’ll be back much stronger because of this result.”