Tokyo Olympics aim for table tennis star Liam Pitchford

The Chesterfield athlete lines up with England colleagues Paul Drinkhall, Sam Walker and Tom Jarvis in the squad for their one chance to seal a team place in Tokyo.

Nine nations will qualify to join the continental champions and hosts Japan in the final field of 16 at the Olympics.

Great Britain are ranked seventh at the event, meaning they will be top seeds in one of eight sections of the draw. They know that three wins – effectively a quarter-final, semi-final and final in their section – will see them through. The nations which lose in the section finals will play a repechage to decide the one remaining place.

Pitchford, who is bidding to appear at his third Olympics after London and Rio, said England’s win over Japan at the Team World Cup in November – their second recent victory over the Olympic hosts – gave the squad extra belief.

He added: “I’m in pretty good shape and feeling good. We’re one of the favourites to qualify but every team can play and it’s going to be tough.”

Each match in Portugal will consist of an opening doubles followed by up to four singles, with each player able to play twice.

If Great Britain qualify, they will automatically also receive two singles places at the Olympics. If they do not, the players will have the chance to earn a spot via the singles qualification tournament in April.

Pitchford added: “There’s slightly more pressure knowing that if we lose, we’re out – we know it’s do or die. It would be nice to qualify and get the two singles places and then the pressure is off and we can prepare well for the Olympics.”