by Alex Hoad at the ExCeL Arena

Paralympic table tennis medallist Will Bayley revealed he used memories of the struggles he has overcome in life to turn around his fortunes and guarantee at least a silver at London 2012.

The 24-year-old from Tunbridge Wells swept into a two-set lead against the dangerous Ukrainian opponent Maxym Nikolenko but missed a match-point in the third set which he went on to lose 13-11.

Bayley – a bubbly and bullish figure at the table - revealed he was riddled with self-doubt at that stage and said: “After I lost the third I thought I was going to lose the match. I kept having negative thoughts, I had a match point to win 3-0 and I blew that and I thought I’d blown it all.”

However Bayley instead came back strong in the final set to win 11-5 and seal a gold medal match in the Class 7 singles on Sunday evening.

The Byng Hall TTC star was born with athrogryphosis, a condition which affected his muscle growth, and beat cancer when he was aged just seven, just before he took up table tennis.

He said: “I have been through so much in my life and I just thought a match against Nikolenko of Ukraine is nothing compared to the things I’ve overcome.

“I just kept telling myself that. I can do it. I have had to fight in my life and I have done it. This is nothing compared to that.”

He added: “I just gave it everything. I left everything out there on that table.

“He’s probably a better player than me, but the home crowd spurred me on and I just got through it. I don’t know how. I played the best I could play. I don’t think I can play better than that. He played well as well. It was a good match.”

Bayley revealed he would not spend Saturday night celebrating his place on the podium, his thoughts had already turned to Sunday’s final against German Jochen Wollmert, who upset World No1 Mykhaylo Popov in the other semi-final.

He said: “I definitely want to win. I am a winner but for me nothing’s ever good enough really, but I think it would be if I won here.”

Bayley’s emotions were in stark contrast to those of Ross Wilson who dropped a heartbreaking deciding set 11-6 against skilful Chinese World No1 Shuai Zhao in Class 8, having been two points from a straight sets win at one stage.

The 17-year-old from Minster, Sheppey, produced an incredible first two and a half sets, racing into an 11-9, 11-9, lead, only for Zhao to regroup and snatch the third set 12-10 and then use his momentum to take the fourth and fifth, despite some gutsy resistance from Wilson.

The Howard TTC, Medway, member said: “It was a special game. I started well, the crowd was really loud and I was feeding off that, but he’s a brilliant player.

“He raised his game and maybe my concentration dropped a bit in the third and at 10-10 I missed a serve.

“It’s my first Paralympics and I’m sure there will be more opportunities to come.

Wilson must try and lift himself in time for Monday’s bronze medal playoff against old foe Emil Andersson of Sweden.

He added: “I’ve still got another game to come so now I have to get focused on that one. I have a couple of days to get ready for that.

“I’ll try my hardest and see what happens.”

He added: “I think most of us are still on a high, even to lose, I’m on a high because the support has been incredible and it’s been really enjoyable.”

Bayley also paid a glowing tribute to his young training partner, saying: “He’s 17-years-old and a much better player than me, he is the future.”