Our #SuperSmashSquad qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games have been announced.

A total of 120 Para badminton athletes (60 men and 60 women) representing 31 National Paralympic Committees have qualified for Paris 2024.

They will compete in 16 events (12 singles and four doubles).

Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Qualifiers

There are three new events on the programme for Paris 2024 – Women’s Singles Standing Lower 3 (WS SL3), Women’s Singles Short Stature 6 (WS SH6), and Mixed Doubles Short Stature 6 (XD SH6).

France is represented by a strong home contingent of eight athletes led by defending Tokyo 2020 men’s singles SL4 gold medallist Lucas Mazur.

Athletes from Austria, Belgium, Chile, Italy, New Zealand, Nigeria and USA will compete in Paralympic Para badminton for the first time.

The Para badminton competition takes place from 29 August – 2 September 2024 at Porte de La Chapelle Arena.

Highlights:

Just two years ago Palak Kohli was fearing for her Para badminton career after she was diagnosed with a bone tumour in her left ankle.

Fast forward to 2024, and the now 21-year-old Indian is back for her second Paralympics, having made a full recovery following a surgery that took 12 months to heal. Her left leg had shrunk post-surgery, requiring her to wear different shoe sizes. This resulted in Kohli being reclassified from SU5 to her new category, SL4.

“As soon as the International Paralympic Committee revealed the gold medal, I saved it as my phone wallpaper. I wanted to keep focused for Paris because that’s the dream. A podium finish would be ideal. After losing the bronze medal match at Tokyo 2020, a medal is what I want most,” Kohli said.

New Zealand Para badminton newcomer Wojtek Czyz is back for a fourth Games, having representing Germany in Para athletics as a sprinter and long jumper, winning a staggering seven medals, including four gold.

“I’m really looking forward to inspiring the next generation and helping New Zealand to grow new athletes in Para sport.”

“Badminton had always been a hobby of mine since I was a boy, but I’d never played it professionally.

“[Qualifying] wasn’t easy… but I was lucky to share my vision and my passion with others, and create a team around me, and with a big team effort, we all made it happen.”

Follow our Para badminton #SuperSmashSquad stars on their #RoadToParis.