Paralympian #230 Matthew Britz Achieved Career Best Wins on International Tour
New Zealand Para table tennis athletes Matthew Britz and Tim Johnson recently competed at the ITTF World Para Futures in Santiago (18 to 20 April) and the ITTF World Para Challenger in São Paulo (23 to 26 April).
The international tour marked an important step forward, particularly for Matthew, who delivered a series of standout performances against some of the world’s best.
Matthew Britz
Career-Best Wins Signal a Breakthrough
Across both Santiago and São Paulo, Matthew finished in the Top 8 in the Men’s Singles Class 7 at both ITTF World Para events. During the South American tour, he recorded three career-best wins against higher-ranked players he had not beaten before. This is an important step in his development, showing he can now convert close matches into wins against top opponents.
His recent results included:
- beating World No. 19 Sam Gustafsson (Sweden) in the group stage in Santiago. This win helped him progress through the event, where he went on to reach the quarterfinals.
- beating World No. 12 Michał Deigsler (Poland) in the group stage in São Paulo. After losing the first two games, Matthew fought back to win 3–2 (5–11, 10–12, 11–7, 11–7, 14–12). This showed he could stay calm under pressure and find a way to win.
- beating World No. 5 Paulo Salmin (Brazil) in the Round of 16 in São Paulo, winning 3–1. This was a standout result, as it was his first win over a top-five player and came against a strong opponent on home soil.
These results mark a major milestone. While Matthew has previously been close, this is the first time he has secured multiple wins against top-ranked players, including a top-five opponent.
National Para Coach John Tuki praised Matthew’s performance:
“Matthew’s performance against Sam Gustafsson was one of the highlights of the tour. He produced a masterclass to secure a strong win.
What stood out most was his ability to deliver back-to-back wins against top opponents. He showed real composure in key moments, staying calm under pressure and finding ways to win when it mattered.
Men’s Singles Class 7 is a very competitive event, so to finish in the Top 8 at both tournaments is a great result and a clear sign of his progress.”
Player's Reflection – Matthew Britz
Matthew Britz reflected positively on his performances across the two events:
“I felt very happy with my performances across Santiago and São Paulo. I feel like my confidence kept building one match at a time.”
On his Top 8 finishes, he said:
“It feels like a step closer to becoming a podium contender and a few steps closer to a gold medal.”
He also spoke about his mindset during the tournaments:
“I noticed I was more fearless throughout these events, which helped me stay relaxed when the matches got intense.”
Reflecting on his comeback win against World No. 12 Michał Deigsler, he said:
“I remember telling my coach after going down 0–2, ‘you know what, I can do this’. The next thing I knew, it was 2–2, and I managed to win a very close final game 14–12. After the last point, I raised my fist as a reminder to myself that I can compete with the best.”
Looking ahead, Britz added:
“These results give me confidence that my training and mindset are heading in the right direction as I prepare for the 2026 World Para Championships.”
Tim Johnson
Valuable Experience for Johnson
For Tim Johnson, the tour was his second international table tennis tournament. He gained valuable experience competing against strong opposition and continues to build his game at this level.
Tim is a former captain of the Wheel Blacks (New Zealand’s wheelchair rugby team) and is no stranger to international competition, having led the NZ team to bronze and gold medals and competed at three Paralympic Games — Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
John Tuki added:
“Considering this is only Tim’s second international tournament, he showed real fight, valuable growth, and the kind of experience that will serve him well moving forward.
Table tennis is tough. It tests you mentally, emotionally, and physically. This tour was a reminder that growth does not only come from wins, but also from how you respond under pressure. I am proud of the way Tim fronted up, kept fighting, and represented New Zealand very well.”
Tim Johnson also reflected on his experience:
“This was only my second major international table tennis tournament, and I learned a lot. It was an important step towards qualifying for the World Para Championships. Playing against strong opponents helped me better understand the level I'll need to reach to succeed.”
Looking Ahead
Matthew Britz will next compete at the ITTF World Para Challenger Elite in Spokane, USA, from 6 to 15 August 2026. He will also compete at the World Para Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, from 13 to 19 November 2026.
Tim Johnson will continue his campaign towards qualifying for the World Para Championships and is aiming to compete in more tournaments to gain ranking points.
With growing confidence and strong results, this international tour marks an encouraging step forward for New Zealand Para table tennis.