PARA table tennis star Martin Perry has his sights set on Rio 2016 — but admits it will be business as usual if he fails to make the cut.

It’s been a strong season so far for the Drumchapel Table Tennis Club member after he took his first-ever gold medal at the Romanian Open back in June.

It was a watershed moment for the 21-year-old after coming second or third in seven previous competitions during his fledgling career.

That result helped Perry to 33rd in the world rankings and he is hoping to keep making progress up the rankings as he looks for a top 15 spot and a berth at Rio 2016.

“It’s been a really good season for me so far this year and I am really happy with how I have done in the competitions I have been in.

“Having come second or third so much you know you are near but you just need to get yourself over that line.

“Winning in Romania was huge for me and that feeling of winning was something that I was trying to get for a long time.

“I have moved up the rankings quite a lot in the last year and hopefully I can keep moving up over the next year.

“Making it to Rio is a goal and would be amazing but if it doesn’t happen then I still have plenty of time and I will just get my head down and go again.” The SSE Next Generation scheme provides emerging talent with funding as well as mentoring from some of the biggest names in British sport.

One of those is Olympic silver medal-winning diver Leon Taylor who caught up with Perry during an SSE Next Generation road show event in Cumbernauld on Thursday “For me it’s awesome to see Martin’s progress and the challenges he is facing at this stage in their career,” said Taylor.

“As a mentor the key is to be there when things aren’t going so well and to be the soundboard and guide them and give them what they need at that time.

“It’s important for them to know that there are people supporting them. If it was around in my early days it would have been massively helpful.”