Paralympic medallist Megan Shackleton will continue her comeback from injury in the Montenegro Para Championships in Podgorica this week (May 4-7) where she will be joined by Pathway athletes Theo Bishop, Ryan Henry, Romain Simon, Shae Thakker and Lee York.

The 24-year-old from Todmorden, who is studying English Literature at the University of Sheffield, won women’s class 4-5 team bronze in Tokyo but then missed 12 months of competition including last year’s World Championships and is slowly working her way back to form and fitness.

“I think it has definitely surprised me how difficult it has been to come back after such a long lay-off,” she said. “I think I understand the game well, but you do need that match-play experience and to be away from the table for so long it does take a while to dust the cobwebs off.  

“I’m hoping that in Montenegro and then Slovenia I can put in some good performances. It is helpful to have that match-play focus and then transfer it into the next tournament – to build on the first lot of matches into the next – and hopefully by the end of it I’ll feel a bit more comfortable in my game again.

“I’m hoping for some good results, especially in qualification year. Having missed last year it feels that I’m straight back into qualifying for another Paralympics, but it is always exciting trying to qualify for a Games and hopefully I’ll be there in Paris.”