FLISS Pickard won a bronze medal on the opening day of the Paralympic Games in Paris.

The Burnley table tennis ace teamed up with Bly Twomey in the Women's Class 14 doubles to earn a podium place after beating Norwegian pair Nora Korneliussen and Jenny Slettum three sets to one.

The pair missed out on a chance to go for the gold medal after losing to Chinese pair Wenjuan Huang and Yucheng Jin in the semi finals.

The medal makes up for the heartbreak of missing out on Tokyo and Pickard said her first experience of a Paralympic Games was worth the wait.

“It was all I’d expected and more,” said the 29-year-old. “To think I’m now a Paralympic medallist is just unbelievable after everything I’ve been through.

"I never thought I’d be able to get to this position and even a few weeks ago I questioned myself.

"But I’m here now with the legend that is Bly and the unbelievable coach that is Andrew Rushton who has got me through everything - the highs and the really low lows but here we are and we’re Paralympic medallists as a three.”

Pickard will now turn her attention to the women’s class 6 singles.

Todmorden's Megan Shackleton got her Paralympics campaign off to a winning start after she won her opening Mixed Class 7 doubles match with Tom Matthews.

The GB pair beat Australia pair Jessy Chen and Daniela di Torro 3-1 to reach the last 16 of the competition.