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Paralympian Daniel Bethell hopes to win gold after taking the para-badminton silver in Tokyo

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As a seasoned gamer of sports stories, I can’t help but feel a surge of admiration and camaraderie when I read about Daniel Bethell‘s journey. Having dabbled a bit in virtual Paralympics myself, I know the grit and determination it takes to reach the top.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m pumped about this week marking the start of the Paralympic Games! There are countless inspiring tales unfolding, both for fresh faces and seasoned athletes. Some sports may not be entirely novel, but they do have a rich history within the Paralympics. It was only three years ago that parabadminton climbed to this elite level.

At the first Games held in Tokyo, Pramrod Bhagat from India claimed the gold medal in SL3 singles. However, it was Daniel Bethell from Great Britain who earned the silver. Born in Huntingdon and 25 years old at the time, Bethell started his competitive career in 2013. As of November 2022, the 28-year-old Bethell, who has a lower limb disability due to cerebral palsy, holds the number one spot in the world rankings.

Daniel Bethell is going for gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games

As stated on the Team GB Paralympics website, the finals of the Tokyo competition in this sport were unusual, as COVID-19 prevented spectators or loved ones from attending. Therefore, Bethell explains, it’s going to be a very strange and unreal experience for athletes with friends and family watching remotely. He also believes that Paris will offer a much more enjoyable atmosphere compared to Tokyo.

Bethel’s inspiration for competition was sparked a year prior when he first watched the Paralympics in Beijing. This is the account of his experience as he embarked on his own competitive journey.

It was the first time I’d really watched para-sport, particularly at that level, and just seeing these amazing athletes with my disability or other disabilities doing these incredible sporting feats, I just really wanted to be a part of it.

Daniel Bethell

His objective for these games is to surpass his performance from the previous year and secure the gold medal, while also having friends and family present this time around. Since this is the first Paralympics in Europe since the 2012 London Games, “it will have a hometown feel, making it particularly memorable.”

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2024-08-26 13:32

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