Teenage Sheppey table tennis player Ross Wilson moved another step closer to the London 2012 Paralympic Games after a fine performance at the European Championships in Croatia.

The 16-year-old, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, which affects the joints at the end of his major bones, secured a silver medal in his class.

He beat several of the world’s top players in Split before being beaten in the final against vastly-more experienced world No.1 Emil Anderson from Sweden.

Wilson, from Minster, has only been playing in the Paralympic ranks for eight months after switching from able-bodied table tennis where he spent years as one of the country’s most promising players, winning national junior titles but missing out on international selection because of restricted movement in his legs.

After receiving a firm diagnosis which allowed him to compete in disabled competition, Wilson (pictured) has swiftly risen to No.8 in the world, having amassed more than 2,000 ranking points.

Proud mum Sally said: "We’re waiting to find out now if he’s selected for the GB squad for 2012.

"You have to be in the top 12 in the world to be able to qualify for 2012 but it’s up to the Great Britain squad to select you.

"We would love him to get selected and even though he’s got plenty of opportunities in front of him, to be involved in the event in your own country would be special."

Wilson – who claimed a team gold and singles silver in the Brazilian Open in August – will hear whether he has been selected during a GB training camp in Sheffield on November 18.