“Table tennis is not the obvious sport for a guy with no hands and one leg!” | Martin Perry

Table tennis was not my first sport of choice. It was actually far from it. I grew up playing football with my three older brothers. In high school I played for the basketball team and rugby team, all able-bodied. I came across table tennis at a Scottish Disability Sport summer camp. It was there that I met Terry McLernon MBE and his athletes from Drumchapel Table Tennis Club. From the first time I hit a ball (barely on the table) I was having fun and I’ve not stopped having fun playing table tennis since. After witnessing Paralympics GB win two bronze team medals in London 2012, I knew I wanted to really pursue table tennis as a career. It’s not the obvious sport of choice for a guy with no hands and one leg, but I have fun everyday and flinging myself around the court actually makes me feel less disabled than probably anything else.

My mission for 2020 first and foremost is to qualify for the Paralympics in Tokyo. Outside of that my mission the status quo is the same as every other year, growth and development. Table tennis is a sport that is always changing and no two points are the same so you always have something to work on.

I have two table tennis heroes. One from the past and one present. From the past it’s Jan-Ove Waldner from Sweden. You watch him play and he makes the game look so easy, he has so much feeling and can move the ball wherever he wants and just oozes sophistication. In the modern game for me my hero is Zhang Jike from China. He won everything, had so much power and played with his heart on his sleeve, which is how I try to play. With lots of emotion and passion for the game.

I don’t think table tennis gets the credit and exposure it deserves until it’s time for the Olympics or Paralympics. Occasionally you get the odd competition shown on tv, but if you don’t know where to look you’re not going to find table tennis to watch. I think it’s such a fast paced entertaining sport and people would love to watch it more.

I think table tennis gets okay funding but only at the very highest of levels. I have been somewhat fortunate to have some level of funding from the very beginning. I know from experience that it’s very difficult to make a living from the sport at a Paralympic level without private sponsors and investment.

For me an ideal commercial partner would be a brand that represents the same values I share;

Honesty

Loyalty

Kindness

Hard work

Sustainability (eco friendly)

Family first

I feel like partnering with a brand that shares these values would be ideal as we could have a shared interest and passion.

My wider mission in table tennis is to inspire others. Yes of course I will do everything in my power to try and achieve my goal of becoming Paralympic Champion. However I think the best way that I can repay the sport for giving me a great life and memories to cherish is by becoming an ambassador for my sport and trying to spread table tennis as far and as wide as possible so that more people play and can have the same fun and enjoyment as I have.

My sporting hero has to be Kobe Bryant. His famously dubbed “Mamba Mentality” is such a phenomenal way to approach sport. To be the best version of yourself. I share that same hard work ethic, “what can I do today to make myself better” it’s a question I often ask myself. Kobe was also a family man. His family was always on his mind and it’s something that I can relate to, living in England when my wife and family are back home in Scotland. It can be tough at times but I know I’ve got the love and support to keep me going. If I had to pick someone closer to home it would be Lewis Hamilton, he turns up and performs week in week out in one of the hardest sports mentally and physically in my opinion. To be able to have such laser like focus and reflexes at such a high speed for 50+ laps on a wet track where you can’t see two feet in front of you is just amazing. Lewis is another big family man, his brother and dad are often seen in the paddock and I really like that.

The highs and lows of sport can be very demanding and draining at times both mentally and physically. I like to unwind by watching a movie with my wife when we get some time together.  We’re both a bit nerdy too and often play things like top trumps or articulate or some form of trivial pursuit, usually the Harry Potter version. We’ll quiz each other on random Harry Potter stuff all the time but I always end up losing. I also love theme parks. I think it’s great to be hurtling through the air at who knows what speed and just being completely out of control as you’re flung around a corner flying upside down. The thrill of being at a theme park I think for me comes just about as close to being in a big competition, your hearts racing and your pumping adrenaline through your body and your always chasing that next high. Which is hopefully winning.

After my table tennis career is finished I would like to be a professional speaker wether that be an after dinner speaker, motivational/inspirational, presenter, commentator etc. I think it all somewhat encompasses the same bracket of being a speaker. I feel that I have a story which, especially if I can fulfil my own dreams, can really help motivate and inspire people. I think it’s great helping others and sport often gives you that platform to do so.