Paris 2024 Paralympic Games | Program, favourites... All about Para badminton events

Following in the footsteps of its Olympic equivalent, Para badminton tournaments will be in full swing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games from August 29 to September 2. For its second participation after Tokyo in the Paralympic calendar, the events in France promise to be spectacular!

Where?

Like the Para powerlifting, which follows on September 4, the Para badminton will be held at the Arena Porte de la Chapelle. An eco-designed site that was conceived beyond the Games for local residents, the competition venue is a brand-new cultural hub in the north of Paris, which will host cultural and sporting events on a daily basis. Erected last year, the new facility has been designed as a living space open to all and geared towards local residents, offering a wide range of sporting activities in its complementary premises. With an intermediate capacity of 8,000 after the Games, the Arena Porte de la Chapelle completes the Parisian offer in terms of hosting sporting events and shows.

When?

The first group matches start on the morning of August 29, and finish on August 31 with the start of the quarter-finals and semi-finals. The first finals, women's double WH1-2 and men's double WH1-2, will be played on September 1, before a grand finale on September 2 with all the other finals to be contested. A total of 16 gold medals will be awarded to the para-badists!

What are the classifications?

In Para badminton, players are divided into six disability categories. Four categories for standing players and two for wheelchair players:

• WH1 and WH2: wheelchair players. In WH1, players have no voluntary trunk action. Wheelchair recovery is less effective, and players sit with a high backrest, which limits their ability to play high shuttlecocks.
• SL3 and SL4 (Standing/Lower in English or Debout/Inférieur in French): standing players with lower-limb disabilities, or slight hemiparesis (partial loss of muscle strength on either the left or right side of the body). In SL3, the knee is affected on one of the two limbs. If the player's leg is affected on the side of the arm that holds the racket, he will be at less of an advantage.
• SU5 (Standing/Upper): standing players with upper-limb handicaps. The higher the player is hit on the limb, the greater the impact on balance and service.
• SH6 (Standing/Short stature): Players of short stature (less than 145 cm for men and 137 cm for women).

It should be noted that, while all categories will have their own singles competition, the doubles will bring together several categories:

• WH1-2 (men's and women's doubles)
• SL3-SU5 (mixed doubles)
• SH6 (mixed doubles)

Who will be there?

For this second edition of the Paralympic Games, no fewer than 120 para-badists (compared with 90 in Tokyo) will be defending their country's colors.

Among the eight Frenchmen qualified for Paris 2024, the Tokyo Paralympic champion in SL4 singles, Lucas Mazur, will be one of the men to watch at this competition. Silver medallist in mixed doubles with Faustine Noël, the CREPS de Bordeaux resident will be looking to carry the French team once again, as they aim for a better record this year.

The full list of tricolors selected for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in Para badminton:

• David Toupé - WH1
• Thomas Jakobs - WH2
• Faustine Noël - SL4
• Milena Surreau - SL4
• Lucas Mazur - SL4
• Maud Lefort - SU5
• Méril Loquette - SU5
• Charles Noakes - SH6

On the international front, as in its Olympic equivalent, Asia dominates the debates. Here are a few names to remember among the main favorites:

• Cheah Liek Hou (MAS): twelve World Championship gold medals and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion in SU5 singles.
• Leani Ratri Oktila (INA): triple medallist at Tokyo 2020: silver in SL4 singles and two gold medals in women's doubles and mixed doubles.
• Sarina Satomi (JPN): double gold medallist at Tokyo 2020 in women's WH1 singles and WH1-WH2 doubles.
• Qu Zimo (CHN): Paralympic champion in WH1 singles and WH1-WH2 men's doubles.

How can you attend?

Tickets are available from the official Paris 2024 Games ticket office. For the return match after the Olympic Games, take advantage of the opportunity and treat yourself to a second dose of happiness and thrills with tickets starting at 15 euros!