On paper it looks like it’s mission impossible but Paul Drinkhall is ready to believe in miracles in Rio.

Great Britain's table tennis team, surprise bronze medallists at the recent World Championships, face China in the last eight today.

But after a memorable singles run of his own, Drinkhall is refusing to rule anything out.

And while China might strike fear into their opponents, Drinkhall is fronting up to the challenge of taking on the world’s best on the biggest stage of all.

“At the end of the day they are humans that have trained like we have done,” he said.

“Nobody is unbeatable. It’s certain that they are the strongest nation but all the pressure is on them.

“They have been beaten in the past and I think there’s definitely a few players out there that can challenge and beat them again. I’d like to think I was in that bracket."

Alongside Liam Pitchford and Sam Walker, Drinkhall lined up against France in their opening team event match – a nation the trio downed en route to winning world bronze earlier this year.

There was a sense of déjà vu as Great Britain won through 3-2, with Drinkhall winning his singles rubber against Emmanuel Lebesson but losing in the doubles alongside Walker.

Victory secured a spot in the last eight but since the sport’s introduction to the Games in 1988 – China have won 24 of the 28 gold medals dished out and over half the total medals.

However, Drinkhall is in a rich vein of form, having become the first British table tennis player to make the fourth round of the Olympics in 24 years.

“Over the last 18 months, I’ve played a lot better,” he said. “I am playing particularly well here and a feel a lot more stable.

“Against Emmanuel in that match, he’s a very tough player to play so it was great to win that match.

“And then obviously for us all to get one match as well was great. For us to win as a team and all have a role in the win.”

“The sport has been going in the right direction for a few years now, and the bronze medal at the World Championships showed we can compete with the world’s best.

“We knew that if everything went well and our way then we could be up there with the best teams. We believed that it could happen.

“I’m here (in Rio) to do my best, I know that’s easy to say but it’s really true."

Aldi is the first Official Supermarket partner of Team GB and has been championing  our nation’s extraordinary athletes on their Road to Rio and encouraging the public to tuck into fresh, affordable, Great British food. For more information visit aldi.co.uk