DRUMCHAPEL Table Tennis Club’s Martin Perry is convinced that a recent training camp in Slovenia can put him on the road to Rio 2016.

The 21-year-old has already achieved landmark successes this year having won his first international gold medal at the Romanian Open in June and reaching a career high ranking of 31.

Perry, who plays the sport using two prosthetics, is confident the training camp with Team GB can help him in his final push for the Paralympics in next summer.

He said: “It was absolutely fantastic. I was training every single day great training partners. We were training in the heat as well which will help me should I get to Rio because it is going to be so warm over there, the hall we were in was 35 degrees.

“It has definitely helped me and I feel I am progressing well.” The Scottish champion managed an 11 position jump in the world rankings to number 31 this summer following his team gold in Romania, alongside two time Paralympian David Wetherill.

After his rivals picked up valuable ranking points at the Pan-American Games, Perry has dropped to 35. To qualify for his first ever Paralympics he must break into the world’s top 12 by Decmeber 31, with four tournaments still to play in the year he is confident of making the jump.

He said: “Romania was fantastic, to win my first gold medal alongside a two time Paralympian was a major step in my career, winning medals is what I want to be doing.

“Due to the Pan-American Games taking place my ranking has dropped a few places to 35 in the world. To get to Rio I have to be in the top 12 in the world by December 31.

“I have four tournaments left to gather some ranking points so hopefully I can make that up, starting with the Czech Open which I leave for on September 23.”