Para Badminton
Jack Shephard
Having experienced success and reaching the World No.1 spot in singles competition, Jack turned his hand to Mixed Doubles when new arrival Rachel Choong joined the programme and was on the hunt for a partner. A scratch partnership got to World No.2 in just two years…picking up the European title along the way. Sport has been Jack’s life since he could walk and he even went through major surgery to straighten his legs so he could give himself the best chance to achieve world class status.
Krysten Coombs
Krysten has been a part of para badminton since the beginning, having won medals in everything you could imagine – multiple World Championships and an Olympic bronze in 2020. As far as pressure matches go, he has experienced it all and has given himself an incredible career to one day look back on and be very proud of his achievements. He has left an indelible legacy on the SH6 sport and is well–respected around the para world. Off the court, he has been studying at the Open University to earn a degree in Sports & Business management.
Dan Bethell
Danny became Great Britain’s first Paralympic medallist in the sport in Japan – winning silver in the SL3 category. Bethell has taken the SL3 category to new heights with some adapted and very specific training that is allowing him to get closer and closer to perfecting the discipline. Danny is a world class athlete and a fantastic role model to show what is possible for people with a disability in this country.Â
Rachel Choong
Rachel became the first female athlete on the programme and her improvement was dramatic. She won medals at every major event and top tier tournament in her first two years with us, playing both Mixed Doubles and Women’s Singles. Rach is fully involved in the full–time programme in Sheffield but also attends the National Junior training with partner Jack to get more realistic match practice on a regular basis. Rachel’s arrival gave the group a new dimension and has been a very positive influence all round.
David Jack Wilson
Jack has been on the programme since 2023 and had a heavy competition schedule from the start. Jack has proven he can compete with the best players in the world and has had some significant wins against the world’s top 12. The improvement he made during his first year on ther programme is remarkable and a testament to his hard work and dedication. Exciting things lie ahead for Jack and we look forward to seeing his progression over the next 12 months, both internationally and on the Badminton England senior circuit.
Robert Donald
Rob is a very promising young talent who has very recently joined the GB para programme – spending his first year combining full–time training with his university studies. Rob was playing on the British University and College Sport (BUCS) circuit and the non-disabled bronze and silver circuit to gain valuable experience and further his competition programme. He has recently undergone surgery to help his hip function, which are hoping will give him even more of an edge in terms of his physicality. We’re very excited to see what the future holds for Rob and hopefully fulfilling his ambitions of World and Paralympic medals.Â
The Coaching Team
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