We are delighted to announce the nine players heading to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Jack Shephard and Dan Bethell will make history when they become the first players to represent ParalympicsGB in para-badminton at Tokyo 2020.
With seven further players named in the Olympic squad, we are so proud of the team we will be sending to Japan this summer.
Para-badminton is one of two new events added to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games programme alongside Taekwondo and we are thrilled to be playing our part in re-writing the history books.
Number two in the SS6 world rankings, Jack Shephard has won back-to-back World Championship Singles titles in 2017 and 2019, marking an incredible comeback after major surgery five years before his maiden triumph.
Dan Bethell competes in SL3 Men’s Singles and is ranked second in the world. He is a three-time European champion and took silver at the 2019 World Championships in Basel.
Following a long break in competitive action during the Covid-19 lockdowns, Dan made a successful return to the court by winning the 2021 Spain International, the final tournament before the Paralympics in Tokyo.
Jack Shephard said: “It’s always been a distant dream of mine to become a Paralympian and it’s now right around the corner. I am ready to go and I can’t wait for the Games to begin.”
Dan Bethell said: “This is something I have been driving towards for the last decade. For it to be just eight weeks away now is surreal. I am 110% ready to give everything to try to win a gold medal at Tokyo 2020.”
Richard Morris, GB Para Badminton Head Coach, said: “It’s a dream come true for the squad. All our hard work and efforts are going to be seen on the biggest stage of them all.
“We have shown that we can perform with the best players in the world and I can’t wait to be in Tokyo as we compete for the biggest prize of them all.”
Olympics
Lauren Smith and returning Olympic medallist Marcus Ellis secured an impressive automatic qualification spot in the mixed doubles after finishing in eighth place on the BWF Race to Tokyo rankings.
The pair climbed the world rankings during the Olympic qualification period, having reached the semi-finals of the prestigious YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships earlier this year.
Men’s singles player, Toby Penty will make his Olympic debut as well as Chloe Birch who pairs up with Smith for the women’s doubles.
Birch, who won a notable silver medal at the 2019 European Games, will head to her first Olympics having enjoyed some superb victories over recent months.
Left-handed Penty secured his men’s singles spot, finishing 52nd in the BWF world rankings and 23rd in the BWF Race to Tokyo rankings.
Women’s singles’ Kirsty Gilmour will compete in her second Olympic Games following her debut at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. She qualified as number 26 in the BWF world rankings and 18th in the Olympic ranking list.
Completing the line-up is men’s doubles pair Ben Lane and Sean Vendy who qualified by virtue of their impressive performances on the BWF World Tour in January this year, becoming the first English men’s double pair to reach the semi-finals of a World Tour event. Ranked 25th in the world, they then went on to win the Orleans Masters event two months later.
Badminton England Performance Director and Olympic Team Leader, Jon Austin, said: “It has been a long journey to get to the point today where we can announce both our Olympic and Paralympic teams for Tokyo.
“The players, coaches and support staff have performed and worked tirelessly in the most extreme circumstances to get to a position where we can announce those that have been selected today.
“There has been so much uncertainty about whether both Games would go ahead, so to be in a position where we are shortly to get on the plane is something that I know all involved will be relieved but also relishing the opportunity to perform at the pinnacle of our sport for Team GB and Paralympics GB.”
Paralympics GB badminton squad for Tokyo Paralympic Games:
SH6: Jack Shephard
SL3: Dan Bethell
Team GB badminton squad for Tokyo Olympic Games:
Men’s singles: Toby Penty
Women’s singles: Kirsty Gilmour
Mixed doubles: Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith
Women’s doubles: Lauren Smith and Chloe Birch
Men’s doubles: Ben Lane and Sean Vendy