Dumbarton table tennis star Martin Perry couldn't be prouder after Paralympic debut

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Martin Perry’s quest for Paralympic glory ended without a medal - but the Dumbarton man says he couldn’t be prouder.Perry was also unlucky to be drawn against the reigning Paralympic champion Ian Seidenfeld in the singles tournament in Paris.The American plays with an extension to his bat to help him receive serve and takes it on and off between, and sometimes during, points.In the first two sets Martin struggled to get into the match, losing both 11-5.

He fought back well in the third and led 8-5 but Seidenfeld levelled and went on to take the third set 11-9 and the match 3-0.“Obviously I’ve got to give him credit,” said Perry, “he is the reigning champion from Tokyo so I knew it was going to be a tough draw, but I just couldn’t get any rhythm because the game was so stop-start with the constant putting on and taking off of the attachment that helps him receive serve.“It is so slow and bit-by-bit and it really disrupts my rhythm to the game and I felt that I couldn’t really do what I wanted to do.“Then to lose the third set from 8-5 up was really disappointing because obviously I was in a commanding position and I missed what I felt were two easy balls which could have put me in with a chance of taking that set.

But he is the reigning champion so it was always going to be a difficult match. I’m not surprised that he went on to win bronze because he’s shown how good he is at this level before.”Despite the disappointment, Martin says he can be proud of the way he has performed at his first Paralympic Games.“This has been the highlight of my career and up there with one of the best experiences of my life,” he continued.“To come to France where my family and friends and supporters could come along because it’s only down the