Badminton star Daniel Bethell is back with renewed energy and determination as he targets the Paralympic gold medal that has so far eluded him. The 29-year-old athlete has recently relocated his training base back to his hometown of Bath, a move he credits with reigniting his passion for the sport. This change, along with some personal time off to get married, has given Bethell fresh motivation ahead of the Paris 2028 Paralympic Games.
“Moving back to Bath was crucial for me,” Bethell explains. “After Paris, I was uncertain about continuing, but training independently in my hometown pushed me to be self-motivated. Getting up early for workouts and maintaining a rigorous routine away from the GB Para Badminton’s Sheffield base helped me realise that my ambition to compete remains strong.”
Bethell, who won silver medals at both Paralympics where para badminton featured, came agonizingly close to gold in Paris, losing a tense final to India’s Kumar Nitesh. This achievement marked him as a consistent top competitor on the world stage, earning medals at every Paralympic Games he has entered.
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Reflecting on his career, Bethell said, “Two silver medals are a dream realized. When I started, simply competing was the goal—medals were beyond my imagination. Now, I’m more driven than ever to claim gold. The loss in Paris was tough, especially after holding the number one world ranking during qualification. But with time, I’m proud of my journey and what I’ve accomplished.”
Bethell also voiced his support for the UK Anti-Doping’s “Protect Your Sport” campaign. Emphasising the importance of clean sport, he praised UKAD as a leading anti-doping authority and called on athletes to be vigilant in reporting doping through confidential channels like SMS, WhatsApp, hotline, or online forms.
“Athletes witness much behind the scenes that goes unnoticed,” he said. “They are vital in protecting the integrity of sport by speaking out. We need to foster an environment where whistleblowing is seen positively to ensure fairness for all competitors.”
Championing clean competition, Bethell encourages athletes to use UKAD’s Protect Your Sport service to safeguard their achievements and the spirit of sport. Reporting is simple and confidential, making it easier than ever to stand against doping.