Rachel Choong

Started: She began playing badminton at age six. Her first Para badminton tournament was in 2007. "I was already seven years into playing the sport and I didn't even know that it [Para badminton] even existed." (independent.co.uk, 05 Oct 2023; Instagram profile, 29 Sep 2023; ymliverpool.com, 26 Oct 2018) Reason: "My dad was already playing, but it was when my older sister had just started getting some coaching at a local club that I was encouraged to join her. As for Para badminton, I was at junior county training when one of the coaches suggested that I enter into the 4 Nations Para badminton championships which had just introduced the short stature events. Kindly, he put me through the channels to get classified. The implications, for me, were profound. I always knew I couldn't be a top badminton player competing against non-disabled people who were a foot taller than me, but, at that tournament, I realised I could be a top player in this world." (womenshealthmag.com, 13 Apr 2021; badmintoneurope.com, 17 Nov 2020; ymliverpool.com, 26 Oct 2018) Ambition: To win medals in both singles and doubles at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (badmintonengland.co.uk, 13 Aug 2024) Awards: In 2020 she was named Para Badminton Player of the Year by Badminton Europe. (Facebook page, 02 May 2021) In 2016 she received the Outstanding Achievement award at the Badminton England National Awards. (womenssporttrust.com, 07 Apr 2018) In 2016 she was named Female Sports Personality and Disabled Sports Personality of the Year at the Sefton Sports Awards in England. (womenssporttrust.com, 07 Apr 2018) In 2016 she won the Inspirational Performance of the Year Award at the British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards. (uksport.gov.uk, 08 Feb 2016; Facebook profile, 26 Feb 2018) Additional Info: OTHER ACTIVITIES She worked as a commentator at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. She has also served as an equality, diversity and inclusion committee member with Badminton England, as an ambassador for the Asian Sports Foundation, and as a gender equity ambassador for Badminton Europe. "I have found that badminton has never put up any barriers because of my disability or my ethnic background or my gender, and I feel like that's fantastic." (LinkedIn profile, 09 Nov 2023; independent.co.uk, 05 Oct 2023; bwfbadminton.com, 13 Oct 2022)

Sporting Relatives: Her father Mike has been involved in running Crosby Badminton Club in Liverpool, England. (ymliverpool.com, 26 Oct 2018)