Sarina Satomi

Started: She took up Para badminton in 2017. (parasapo.tokyo, 06 Apr 2020) Reason: She used to play badminton in middle school, so her father suggested the sport to her. "If I hadn't encountered Para badminton, I would still be spending most of my life at home. At first I was reluctant to play, not being able to see the fun part of the sport, but once I got serious a whole new world opened up. I started having great fun. I'm profoundly grateful to my father, who kind of forced me to join the club." (tokyo2020.org, 20 Oct 2020; parasapo.tokyo, 06 Apr 2020, 27 Sep 2019) Milestones: She was one of three athletes to win two Para badminton gold medals on the sport's debut at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Chinese player Qu Zimo and Indonesia's Leani Ratri Oktila also achieved the feat in Tokyo. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Jul 2024) Awards: In 2020 she received the Governor of Chiba Prefecture Award in Japan. (pref.chiba.lg.jp, 25 Mar 2020) In 2019 she received a Rookie Award at the Japan Para Sports Awards. (otekomachi.yomiuri.co.jp, 22 Jan 2020)