A Banstead archer has opened the best birthday present ever when it was confirmed that she would be on the plane to the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Tania Nadarajah claimed her place via the World Para Archery Championships in Germany last month, when a one-dart shoot out win over China’s Lin Dandan won her a tense five-set match the women’s open recurve category.

And her achievement is all the more remarkable given she only flew out to Germany 24 hours before competing as a replacement for an injured team-mate.

After the championships, not only was she celebrating a place in Rio, but also her 35th birthday.

She said: “When I got the last-minute call to join the team, I was ecstatic.

“I knew it was an incredible opportunity to prove myself on the biggest stage possible.

“It was a highly pressured environment, but I stayed focused on maintaining my technique for each arrow.”

She added: “I couldn't believe it when I realised I had won the quota place for GB.

“It was the best birthday present ever.”

Nadarajah was injured in a motorcycle accident in 2009, which broke her spine, ribs and collarbone and left her paralysed from the chest down.

She spent almost 10 months in hospital recovering, during which time she first tried archery and enjoyed the sport instantly.

However, it was not until she attended an event run by UK charity Sportability in 2014 that she was inspired to find an archery club and take up the sport regularly.

Just a few months later, she attended a talent identification event and was invited to join a fast track programme with Archery GB.

For the past year, Nadarajah has been in full-time training with the GB Para Archery team and made her international debut at the Dutch Para Archery Tournament in May 2015, bringing home a bronze medal for the women's recurve team event.

She now has her sights set on the European Championships and, of course, the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.