'I would like to bring home a smile': Yuka Chokyu selected to Canadian Paralympic team
The 57-year-old is going to her fourth Paralympics, but first in Para badminton.
Yuka Chokyu was the lone athlete named to Team Canada’s Para badminton team for Paris 2024 on Thursday, and will return to the Paralympic stage this summer for the first time in 16 years.
Chokyu — born in Kashiwa, Japan but based in Vancouver, British Columbia — went to three consecutive Paralympic Games from 2000 to 2008 in the sport of wheelchair tennis, including making the quarterfinals in both women’s singles and doubles at Sydney 2000.
Over two decades later, the 57-year-old will make her Paralympic debut in badminton.
Chokyu started playing badminton in 2017, and has become one of the best in the world in the WH1 classification. Currently ranked tenth in the world, she has been as high as number seven in February of this year. In the past five years she has won a pair of Parapan Am Games medals — a silver in Lima in 2019 and a bronze last fall in Santiago.
Para badminton made its Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020, when Canada was represented by Olivia Meier, who competes in a standing category.
“I feel honoured to be the first athlete competing in a wheelchair to represent Canada in badminton at the Paralympic Games,” said Chokyu in a press release. “I am keeping my training routine focused and will be the best I can be at the Games.
“I am very excited and no matter the results, I would like to bring home a smile. I want to enjoy the atmosphere because I think that's the most important.”
For Paris 2024, Chokyu is the recipient of a Bipartite Commission Invitation Slot, awarded by Badminton World Federation, and will compete in the women’s WH1 singles event.
“We are very proud and happy for Yuka to be able to compete at the Paris Paralympics,” said Frank Gaudet, Badminton Canada’s Para national team coach, in a press release. “She will be a great representative for Canada as she is a professional, friendly, outgoing, and very competitive and experienced badminton athlete.
“She will give nothing but 100 per cent on court. Over the next two months, we will work with Yuka to prepare both mentally and physically to get ready to perform to her best ability in Paris.”
The Para badminton tournament in Paris will take place August 29 to September 2 at Porte de la Chapelle Arena. The Paralympic Games will take place August 28 to September 8, and Canada is expecting to send a team of approximately 140 athletes.
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