‘Para-badminton changed my world’: Liverpool Paralympian says visibility is important
Disabled teenage girls are struggling to feel included in sport.
A report released by Access Sport, says 64 per cent of disabled teenage girls do not exercise regularly or engage in a sport. A further 54 per cent are frustrated by the lack of suitable opportunities available to them.
But Liverpool-born Paralympian, and England’s most decorated badminton player, Rachel Choong says it’s important young disabled athletes feel included.
“Para-badminton changed my world,” said Choong.
“Even just walking into the hall and seeing people in wheelchairs, people on prosthetic legs, with cerebral palsy, and the people with dwarfism, everyone competing and playing badminton.
“There was this shared love of the sport despite our disabilities, and it was incredible.”
Choong was born in Liverpool with a very rare condition of dwarfism called 3M syndrome.
She began playing badminton at just six years old and, at first, competed against able bodied children.
But learning about para-badminton was a massive moment in her life and representation, she says, is incredibly important.
“I’m big believer that you can’t be what you can’t see,” said Choong.
“It meant a lot to see all these people with different types of disabilities competing in the same sport and also having a way of competing on a level playing field.”
Access Sport’s research revealed 53% of girls surveyed feel their impairment, health condition, illness or
disability gets in the way of them enjoying sport. Only 32% said they find it easy.
And Choong recalled that playing against able bodied children when she first started out came with a lot of challenges.
She said: “They all started growing much more significantly than I did, and then it just meant that they were able to move around the court a lot easier.
“Where it could take them three strides to cover the width of the course, it would take me four or five.
“They could just hit it harder, they were faster, and they were stronger.”
As well as being a 10-time world champion, the Crosby-born athlete is also an ambassador for organisations such as Sporting Equals and the Badminton Europe Confederation.
She said: “I’m really passionate about helping people who might not be as fortunate as me to have their pathway into sport.
“If I can help anyone have a way into sport where there’s fewer barriers, I’m all for that.”
Featured image courtesy of Rachel Choong.
