22 August 2024
Rachel Choong has gone from nearly giving up Para badminton to turning into ParalympicsGB’s first-ever feminine participant within the sport.
The 30-year-old missed out on Para badminton’s Paralympic debut along with her classification not within the programme at Tokyo 2020.
However for Paris, they’re, and she or he has been sharing her journey to her first Video games with Channel 4, the official UK Paralympic broadcaster.
“Going to the Paralympics as an athlete is one thing that I’ve dreamt of for a really very long time,” Choong stated within the quick documentary Paris 2024 Paralympics – Meet the Athletes.
“I keep in mind after I first began Para badminton, we weren’t even a Paralympic sport. Even nonetheless, I used to be all the time hopeful, that at some point I might be a Paralympian taking part in Para badminton.
“Previous to that, I used to be competing internationally and it was all self-funded and I used to be making an attempt to stability a full-time job and travelling the world competing and coaching was very tough.
Introducing the Para badminton workforce with a little bit assist from considered one of our @GetSetCommunity colleges in Sheffield 🏫#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/VCJJlDT0OJ
— ParalympicsGB (@ParalympicsGB) June 10, 2024
“Para badminton made its Paralympic debut in Tokyo however sadly, the occasions that I compete in weren’t included within the Tokyo programme.
“It was actually, actually tough understanding everybody else bought the chance to not less than attempt to qualify for Tokyo and I knew that I had no likelihood.
“The game was turning into extra skilled then as international locations had been getting funding from their federations and there was me nonetheless making an attempt to self-fund. I used to be on the cusp of giving up on badminton actually.”
Choong is considered one of 13 athletes featured within the 12 quick documentaries made by Channel 4 forward of the Video games, with 12 Paralympic sports activities lined.
The Liverpudlian was on the Tokyo Video games however working in commentary as Dan Bethell and Krysten Coombs received ParalympicsGB’s first medals within the sport.
First day on the GB Para-Badminton Programme and the FIRST OFFICIAL DAY OF MY PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC JOURNEY!!! 🇬🇧🏸
Comeback pending… 💪🏼🔥#Paris2024 #Paralympics #parabadminton #ParalympicsGB #uksport pic.twitter.com/OaFUsv5K20
— Rach Choong (@rach_choong) March 21, 2022
Choong will compete within the SH6 ladies’s singles and combined doubles, the latter alongside Jack Shephard, who competed in Tokyo.
The pair are each looking for their first Paralympic medals and are in nice type having rocketed as much as World No.1 within the combined doubles rankings after Shephard’s return from damage.
She added: “I bought a name from my head coach Richard Morris to say that SH6 ladies’s singles and combined doubles had been included for the Paris Paralympic Video games.
“Not having the ability to go to Tokyo was so tough for me so Paris will likely be very particular. I had nearly given up on that dream.
“If you find yourself enthusiastic about one thing, you understand how a lot you have to give it and spend money on it and the talent, the drive and the exhausting work.
“And on to get on that stage, the Paralympics, it solely comes round each 4 years, to get there and hastily your life is culminating to this one second, it’s one thing to recognise and admire.”
The Paralympics start on 28 August with full protection on Channel 4 with the badminton starting the subsequent day.
