Halime Yildiz and Ilker Tuzcu have the same dream – to win a gold medal each at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

“I feel wonderful right now,” said Yildiz after her 21-17 21-8 win over India’s Parul Dalsukhbhai Parmar in SL3 women’s singles at the Thailand Para Badminton International 2023.

“I’ve been playing for five years and I feel like I’m steadily improving. Other than Parmar, I see (Manasi Girishchandra) Joshi as a huge obstacle but whoever I’m playing I’m always excited before a match. I very rarely get nervous,” she added.

Teammate Tuzcu triumphed in his SU5 men’s singles match against Poland’s Bartlomiej Mroz, 21-13 17-21 24-22.

“I understand Bart’s game because he’s my men’s doubles partner. We are friends, he’s a great guy but I’m glad I won,” said Tuzcu, who had to give Tokyo 2020 Paralympics a miss due to a hamstring injury.

Having trained with the same coach, Fatih Yuksel, since he started playing badminton 18 years ago, Tuzcu said: “My focus is Paris 2024.”

Ukrainian Oksana Kozyna was quick to end her SL3 women’s singles match with a 21-7 21-9 win against India’s Amudha Saravanan but the recently-crowned world champion doesn’t take any match lightly.

“There’s never an easy match. I appreciate every opponent works hard and deserves to be on the podium. I don’t think I’m the best just because I’m world champion,” she said.

Perhaps the happiest person today is Maldivian Abdul Latheef Mohamed, after defeating India’s Anubhav Sagar Tewatia 21-17 23-21 in SL3 men’s singles.

“I’ve been playing since 2021 and this is my first international win ever,” said an elated Mohamed. “It’s an incredible feeling. When I stepped onto the court I didn’t think I could win. With each point I felt better and with my coach’s guidance I felt I could manage this. I had to change my style but it worked.”

→ Results (Day 2)

→ Order of play (Day 3)