February 01, 2024
Jack Shephard withdraws from the Para World Championships.
Badminton England are sad to announce that Jack Shephard is withdrawing his entry to this year’s Para-Badminton World Championships in Thailand due to injury.
Jack, a two-time World Champion and the reigning silver medallist following his appearance in the Final in Tokyo two years ago, has been forced to withdraw from next month’s BWF tournament following expert medical advice to solve an ongoing injury.
Based on the leading medical advice in this field, Jack’s injury requires a short but sustained period of rest which is expected to sideline the Chesterfield-born para-badminton star for a period of up to six weeks.
However, in identifying this injury early, we know this period of recuperation will ensure Jack is able to recover his fitness and top form in good time ahead of this summer’s Paralympic Games in Paris.
“Naturally, I’m desperately disappointed to miss this year’s World Championships but I know that this is the right path to take for my injury,” Shephard said.
“There is nothing that frustrates athletes more than injury, but it is positive that the recovery time is not expected to be too long and, as and when I’m told I can get back out on court to train, I’ll be raring to go and ready to compete to the best of my ability!”
Head of Performance at Badminton England, Mark Beecher, added, “It is never enjoyable to withdraw players from major tournaments for which they have been working so hard towards in training every day, but it is definitely the right thing to do for Jack. Our focus has to be on the Paralympic Games in August and this period of rest will allow the injury to heal fully and offer Jack enough time to get himself back to full fitness and competing at the very highest level in Paris.”
