Paris 2024 Flash Quotes: Para Badminton

Comments from ParalympicsGB para badminton player Daniel Bethell following this morning’s session.

Bethell won his opening SL3 singles group game 21-5, 21-2 against New Zealand’s Wojtek Czyz, with former Liverpool FC manager Jurgen Klopp watching on from the stands.

Daniel Bethell

Sport: Para Badminton, men’s SL3 singles

Age: 28

Hometown: Bath

“I’ve had a really good start to the tournament which was the focus going into that match. It’s obviously completely different having a crowd, which is completely different from Tokyo. I just wanted to go and settle in and I did that exactly how I wanted to.

“I’ve just got to take it one game at a time, it’s a fierce competition out there, everyone is playing their best badminton, so I just need to make sure I’m really on it to make sure I’m there on Monday in with a shot at a gold.

“I feel like I’ve come away from Tokyo [where he secured a silver medal] with a lot of lessons learned. I feel much stronger, physically I’ve got much better over the last three years and that’s been a big help in helping me get the results I have done."

On being watched by Klopp:

“I found out he was watching just before I went on which was a bit of a surreal moment. I wasn’t expecting it. It’s amazing for someone of that calibre in the sporting world to be here at the Paralympics supporting para badminton.

“I heard him yelling out ‘well done Dan’ and I got a thumbs up from him as well which was really special, a surreal moment. It’s another thing I’ll always remember about this Paralympics.

“I don’t normally expect my games to have that additional level of interest, but it’s amazing. It’s a big reason why I wanted to get into elite sport to have this attention on the sport and have these moments makes it all the more special and all the more memorable.”