STONEHOUSE'S sporting star Billy Shilton this weekend won a medal at the Paralympic Games. 

Shilton and playing partner Paul Karabardak were beaten in three close sets in the semi-final of men’s class 14 by the number one seeds Rungroj Thainiyom and Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri from Thailand but can be proud of adding a Paralympic bronze medal to the World title they won in Spain two years ago.

On that occasion they beat Thainiyom and Wangphonphathanasiri in the final but today it was the Asian Para Games champions who just had the edge, as they did in the final of the US Open earlier this year.

The first two sets followed a similar pattern with Shilton and Karabardak edging ahead to lead 9-7 before Thainyom and Wangphonphathanasiri came back to take both sets 11-9. Leading 2-0 the Asian Para Games champions grew in confidence and although the British pair kept fighting they took the third set 11-7 to secure a 3-0 win.

Shilton said: “We were 9-7 in both sets and we played really good up to that point and it was just a few balls at the end.

"I think we were a little bit inconsistent in patches but on the whole I’m proud of myself and proud of Paul and I think in a couple of days we’ll be happy.

“Obviously now I’m a bit emotional after the match but also unbelievably happy that Paul and I managed to win the bronze.

(Image: PA News Agency)

"It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time since Tokyo - just to feel that buzz of winning a medal again and it’s a special feeling and I’m happy that I could do it with Paul.”

Karabardak said: “I think when we were leading we could have been a bit more positive and moved the ball a bit better.

"Had we taken one of those first two sets it might have been a different game but then you could say that about the Brazil game (yesterday) and sometimes that is sport and you’ve got to give credit to them for taking their opportunities.

“It is disappointing, but I think we played superbly against Brazil and we’ve done really well and we can be pleased with the bronze and it is a great achievement for me and Billy.”

Head coach Andrew Rushton had mixed feelings after his team secured a second medal in the doubles events.

“Really proud of them both,” he said.

“It’s been a tough couple of years really going through each tournament and getting to this stage.

"I am gutted.

!"Obviously, it’s just happened, and it is very emotional because I genuinely felt they could win it – the whole thing not just that match – so I’m gutted for them but coming away from a Paralympic Games with a medal is something that not a lot of people do and we’ve got to cherish that.”