by Alex Hoad at the Olympic Park

Table tennis ace Ross Wilson says he will give his all for Paralympic glory not just for himself but for every GB fan cheering him on.

Wilson, from Minster, Sheppey, who only turned 17 in June, is set to play in front of 5,000 fans at ExCel and has been given a bye straight through to the quarter-finals of the Class 8 singles – due to his ranking of fourth in the world – which will take place at 11am on Saturday.

The Howard Table Tennis Club, Gillingham, member said: “It means I’ll have to go straight in and play well. There won’t be any time to warm-up and they’re all going to be good players. It’s straight into it.”

He added: “I won’t have played in front of a crowd of 5,000 or whatever it is before but that’s the type of thing which will inspire me more.

“I’ll be there trying to play well and win for them as well. I can’t wait.”

Wilson (pictured) has the rare genetic condition multiple epiphyseal dysplasia which affects the joints at the ends of his long bones and only received the go-ahead to switch from able-bodied table tennis last year.

The Islander – now based at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield – was one of the country’s most promising junior players but missed out on international recognition due to restricted movement in his legs.

Wilson said: “It’s been hard to adapt to everything over the past year but I have been enjoying every second of it.”

The competition could see him renew his rivalry with Swedish former world No.1 Emil Andersson, who beat Wilson to claim the European Championship gold in Split, Croatia, last year – although Wilson avenged that defeat with victory over Andersson at the Slovenian Open earlier this year, eventually claiming gold.

Wilson said: “He’s a good player but there are two Chinese players who are strong too.

“I’m not going to talk about finals or medals, I’m just going to take every game as it comes.

“Just making the Games was a massive thing for me, so everything else is just a great bonus.”