Last Updated on 31/08/2024 by Crip Life
Para badminton player Rachel Choong will make history when she becomes the first female athlete to represent ParalympicsGB in the sport at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
As part of our ParalympicsGB debutants interview series, our editor, Emma Purcell, speaks to Rachel Choong about living with dwarfism, becoming a badminton player, her sporting success so far and what she is most looking forward to at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Rachel Choong was born with a very rare condition of dwarfism called 3M Syndrome. The 30-year-old from Liverpool is one of the UK’s most successful badminton players with 10 World and 10 European titles to her name across the SH6 women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles events.
After winning medals from as early as 2008, she will now be hoping to add her first Paralympic medals in Paris as an SH6 women’s singles player and alongside Jack Shephard in the mixed doubles.
Together, Rachel and Jack have won a World bronze medal in 2022 followed by a European title in 2023. In that same tournament, Rachel also claimed a silver in the SH6 singles event.
Fellow ParalympicsGB badminton players Dan Bethell and Krysten Coombs will also be competing at the Paris Paralympics.
Away from the court, Rachel is a passionate advocate for gender equity and works with organisations such as Women’s Sports Trust, Sporting Equals and Asians in Sport.
Read on to find out more about Rachel Choong in her own words and scroll down to see her Paris 2024 results.
Rachel Choong on living with 3M Syndrome dwarfism
What was it like growing up with dwarfism?
I knew I was different from everyone else, but I don’t feel like it affected me. All of my friends were of average height, but I never felt excluded from them. My school was very understanding of my disability, and I was never made to feel different or bullied.
When I started playing badminton, it didn’t affect me as I was just playing for fun and wanted to get the basics. But when I started training and playing more competitively, it was difficult as the height difference between me and my friends became more apparent.
But I truly believe that playing against non-disabled people in those early stages of my career has helped develop me into the badminton player I am today. Trying to keep up with my friends was a big motivator for me to become stronger, quicker and constantly improve.
How does living with dwarfism affect you on a daily basis?
I don’t feel like it affects me too much, but I think it is because I’ve learnt to adapt. I have a few footstools around the house to help me reach things, and my car is adapted so I can drive. And then there are other things like not always being able to reach the higher shelves in the shops.
I still get a bit uncomfortable when people stare – it’s mostly children and I know they don’t know any better, but it’s still uncomfortable.
How did it feel to finally get diagnosed with 3M Syndrome after years of research and tests and can you tell us more about the condition?
I remember parts of my childhood when I was in and out of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for genetics appointments. So, in 2020, it was a great feeling to have finally been given a diagnosis after not knowing for so long. I had been waiting so long for it that it had got to a point where I never thought I would get one. Although I know that this diagnosis doesn’t define me, it’s still nice to know what makes me, me.
3M syndrome is an extremely rare hereditary disorder characterised by low birth weight, short stature (dwarfism), and/or other physical and skeletal abnormalities. This condition is caused by a mutation in any one of the three genes: CUL7, OBSL1, and CCDC8.
Rachel Choong on becoming a badminton player
You come from a family of social badminton players. Why were you all drawn to badminton and did you or your family get involved in other sports when you were growing up?
My dad has always played badminton and still does, and at the time when I was starting, my mum was playing socially and my sister was also. I think we all started playing because my dad played.
None of my family have ever been involved in any other sports. It’s always only been badminton. As I was introduced to the world of Para badminton and Para sport, I was encouraged to try other Paralympic sports. I had a go at athletics and table tennis, but I never loved any other sports like I love badminton.
How does Para badminton differ from standard badminton?
Para badminton enables people with physical disabilities to play badminton against people with similar disabilities. There are six classifications: two for people who use a wheelchair (WH1 and WH2), two for people with a lower limb impairment (SL3 and SL4), one for people with an upper limb impairment (SU5), and one for people with dwarfism (SH6).
Para badminton is played on a standard badminton court with a standard height net, but the areas of the court can be restricted depending on the event (half court is used for WH1, WH2 and SL3 singles events).
What has been the highlight of your Para badminton career so far?
It was when I won three golds at the BWF Para Badminton World Championships 2015 in Stoke Mandeville, England. This was the first time I had won all three titles at a World Championships and was made even more special as it was on home soil and my family were there to share the experience with me. This achievement also made history as I became the first English player to win three titles at a single World Championships.
Away from the badminton court, you are ambassadors for many sports equality organisations. Can you tell us more about the organisations you’re involved in?
I am currently an ambassador for Sporting Equals and Asian Sports Foundation, both of which work to support ethnically diverse communities in sports and physical activity. I am also on the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee for Badminton England, and I work very closely with the Women’s Sport Trust, and I have previously been a Badminton Europe Gender Equity Ambassador.
Each of these organisations works to tackle inequalities in sports that are hugely important to me, and my work as an ambassador allows me to support these groups and communities.
Rachel Choong on preparing for Paris 2024
How does it feel to be selected for your first Paralympic Games?
It’s amazing to be selected for my first Paralympic Games and represent ParalympicsGB. In the early days of my Para badminton career, I had dreamt of becoming a Paralympian, but badminton was not yet a Paralympic sport. Then when badminton made its debut in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, my events were not included and I had almost completely given up on that dream. So this really is a dream come true.
How have your preparations been going for Paris 2024?
Preparations started when I joined the GB Para Badminton Programme in April 2022. It’s been a steep learning curve for me and a huge lifestyle change. I went from working a full-time job in retail, not training at all, and living with my parents and sister in Liverpool; to moving to Sheffield, training full time and travelling the world every few months competing.
Now that we’re on the home straight and Paris 2024 is just around the corner, training has a more significant focus on the Paralympics. I’ve had success in the recent tournaments picking up some medals and important ranking points, and I’m hoping to carry that momentum into the summer and the Paralympic Games.
What are you looking forward to the most at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, as well as aiming to secure a medal?
The ultimate dream is to win two gold medals, but I’m also looking forward to going out there and competing, representing ParalympicsGB and hopefully putting in some good performances.
I’m really looking forward to living the “athlete village” life and seeing if the rumours about the food hall are true!
You can find out more about Rachel Choong by following her on Instagram.
Paris 2024 Paralympics: Badminton results
Rachel Choong began her first Paralympics in the SH6 Mixed Doubles alongside fellow Brit Jack Shephard. Sadly, they were beaten 11-21 7-21 by China’s Lin Naili and Li Fengmei in a match that finished after 1am (CET), exiting at the group stage.
Reacting to the match, Rachel said: “We had singles only a few hours earlier and both of them went to three games. We knew it would be tough, three of the four mixed doubles pairs in the world are in one group. We are disappointed we couldn’t get a win on the board but we’ll reflect on it and there is always room to improve. We know what we need to do to get closer to them.”
In the SH6 Women’s singles, Rachel reached the quarter-finals. She was beaten 7-21, 11-21 by Indonesia’s Rina Marlina.
Discussing the result, Rachel said: “Overall I’m pleased with my first Paralympic experience and I can reflect now. The mixed doubles was disappointing but I’m thrilled to have got out of my singles group and reached the quarter finals.”
On her future, she added: “In terms of progression, there is a lot of room for me to develop and improve. For some of those at the top, I feel they are slightly closer to their ceiling than me.
“I’ve been full-time training for just two years, I’ve seen a huge development in my game since joining the World Class programme.
“I think we’ve got lots to build on, I know I need to work on my physicality but I believe these players can be caught.”
The other ParalympicsGB badminton results are:
- Daniel Bethell – Men’s SL3 Singles – Silver
- Krysten Coombs – Men’s SH6 Singles – Silver
Be sure to catch up on Rachel Choong’s events and the rest of the ParalympicsGB badminton squad at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Channel 4.
What is Para badminton?
Para badminton made its Games debut at Tokyo 2020, joining wheelchair tennis and table tennis as one of three racket sports taking place at the Paralympic Games.
Athletes compete in men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles. The sport is played indoors with a net across the middle of the court and follows the same scoring format as Olympic badminton.
A match consists of the best of three sets, with each set won by the first player to score 21 points. After scores reach 19 points, a side must be two points clear of their opponent to secure the win. Scoring reaches an upper limit of 30 points – so a game can be won at 30-29.
Points are scored when a player wins a rally; the player winning the point also secures serve.
In the wheelchair singles and SL3 classes a half court is used for play, with the area in front of the service line, near to the net, out of bounds.
A full court is used for the SL4, SL5 and SL6 classes and all doubles matches. The height of the net is the same for all classes.