World and Commonwealth champion Ross Wilson got the ParalympicsGB table tennis team off to a winning start in Tokyo.

The men’s class eight competitor, from Sheppey, beat Frenchman Clement Berthier 3-0 in the morning session on the first day of the tournament at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

Wilson took the first game 11-6 but Berthier led 7-4 in the second before a run of seven points secured the game for the 26-year-old 11-7. At 10-7 in the third Wilson had three match points but they all slipped away, and Berthier then had two chances to win the game before the British World number three finally clinched the game 14-12 and the match 3-0.

Following the win, Wilson said: “I’m so pleased. It’s an amazing experience coming to my third Games and I told myself that no matter what happens you’ve got to keep the same sort of mindset and that’s what I did today. I really enjoyed it out there.

“I haven’t competed for a year and a half and as athletes that is why we do it - we love to get out there and put ourselves in that moment. I absolutely loved it and I’ve really missed it.

“It was lovely to come out and get the first win (for the team) and kick us off to a good start and I hope that continues.”

Wilson plays his second group match tomorrow (Thursday) against the Asian champion Peng Weinan from China.