Paris 2024: Ones to Watch for Para badminton

The ten names you should be looking out for when the next Paralympics kick off in France this summer 15 Mar 2024

By IPC

With the countdown to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games well and truly in the final stages, our Sport Weeks provide you with the perfect guide to each of the competitions being contested in France. To round off this week, here are the key Para athletes to keep an eye on in Para badminton this summer.

Cheah Liek Hou (Malaysia)

Malaysian man smiles with gold medal — Cheah Liek Hou won the men's single SU5 at Tokyo 2020. @Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images

The 12-time world champion made history at Tokyo 2020 when he was crowned the first Paralympic champion and Malaysia’s first medallist in Para badminton. He is the number one-ranked men’s singles SU5 player in the world and is so far unbeaten in 2024 with 11 wins from 11 matches.

Daiki Kajiwara (Japan)

A male wheelchair badminton player reaches to return a shuttle during a match. — Daiki Kajiwara topped the podium in the men's singles WH2 at Tokyo 2020. @Kiyoshi Ota/ Getty Images

The Paralympic men’s singles WH2 champion has won two world titles and both the Asian Youth and Asian Para Games crowns since Tokyo 2020. He is the world number one and world number three in his singles and doubles categories respectively.

Helle Sofie Sagoey (Norway)

A female Para badminton player competes in a tournament. — Sagoey finished fourth in the women's singles SL4 event at Tokyo 2020, where Para badminton was included in the Paralympic sports programme for the first time. @Badmintonphoto | Alan Spink/Craig Burgess

The Norwegian narrowly missed the podium at Tokyo 2020, finishing fourth in the women’s singles SL4. Since then she has won six titles, including European singles gold in 2023, as well as European mixed doubles silver in the same year.

Kumar Nitesh (India)

A male Para badminton athlete attempts to return the shuttle during a match — Nitesh is the current world No. 2 in the men's singles SL3 rankings. @BWF/ Parabadmintonphoto

The double world silver medallist is targeting a podium finish on his Paralympic debut at Paris 2024. He heads to the French capital after winning men’s doubles gold, singles silver and mixed doubles bronze at the 2022 Asian Para Games.

Lucas Mazur (France)

A male athlete opens his arms to celebrate after a win. — Mazur has said he wants to compete in front of spectators at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. @Kiyoshi Ota/ Getty Images

Reigning Paralympic champion in the men’s singles SL4 will have the full weight of the crowd behind him as he aims to repeat the double medal success he enjoyed at Tokyo 2020 on home soil in Paris. The Frenchman won five titles in 2023, including triple gold (singles, mixed doubles and men’s doubles) at the European Para Championships.

Man-Kei To (Belgium)

A female Para badminton player, who plays in a wheelchair, in action during a match — Man-Kei To took bronze in the women's singles WH2 tournament at the BWF Para Badminton World Championships 2024. @BWF/ Parabadmintonphoto

The world number two in women’s singles WH1 and reigning European champion is one of Belgium’s big medal hopes at Paris 2024. She is already a women’s doubles silver medallist from Tokyo 2020 and will be aiming to return to the podium this summer.

Maud Lefort (France)

A close up shot of a female Para badminton player preparing to serve — Lefrot took bronze at the most recent World Championships in Thailand. @BWF/ Parabadmintonphoto

The teenage star is hoping to add a Paralympic medal on home soil to her European title and recent world championship bronze.

Pilar Jauregui (Peru)

A female Para badminton player, competing in a wheelchair, returns a shuttle during competition. — Jauregui started Para badminton in 2015, six years before she competed at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. @Badmintonphoto/ Craig Burgess

The former wheelchair basketball player is aiming to add a Paralympic title to her Parapan and world golds in Paris, having collected Worlds silver and bronze at the 2024 edition. She is a seven-time Pan Am champion and says Roger Federer is her tennis idol.

Syakuroh Qonitah (Indonesia)

A female Para badminton player in action — Syakuroh Qonitah is the top-ranked player in women's singles SL3. @BWF/ Parabadmintonphoto

The breakout newcomer of 2023, the Indonesian won two Level 1 titles, Asian Para Games silver and then Worlds silver in 2024 to rise to top spot in the world women’s singles SL3 rankings as she prepares for her Paralympic debut in Paris.

Vitor Tavares (Brazil)

A male Para badminton jumps during a match at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. — Tavares aims to finish on the Paralympic podium for the first time in Paris. @Fabio Chey/ CPB

The Pan American men’s singles number one is among the favourites to claim his first Paralympic medal in Paris after finishing fourth at Tokyo 2020. Together with partner Miles Krajewski he also makes up the number one men’s doubles SH6 team in the world.