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Paris Paralympics 2024: Chan Ho-yuen misses wheelchair badminton even as he wins final medal

The 39-year-old said he was proud of himself after vowing to ‘change the colour’ of his medal after picking up bronze in Tokyo 3 years ago

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Silver medallist Chan Ho-yuen of Hong Kong, gold medallist Daiki Kajiwara of Japan and bronze medallist Kim Jung-jun of South Korea on the podium after the wheelchair badminton WH2 singles on Monday. Photo: Kyodo

An emotional Chan Ho-yuen said he had started to miss wheelchair badminton even as he was fighting for gold at the Paris Paralympics on Monday.

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Before the Games began, the 39-year-old said that, with injuries finally catching up with him, these Games would be his last tournament.

But he had vowed to “change the colour” of his medal after picking up bronze in Tokyo three years ago.

And while he had an eye on bowing out with gold around his neck, Chan was well beaten by top seed Daiki Kajiwara of Japan in the men’s singles WH2 final, losing 21-12, 21-12 at La Chapelle Arena.

“I’m disappointed,” Chan said. “He was really ready for the game and I think that he was 100 per cent convinced that he could grab the gold medal. He was very confident, so he deserved it.

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“I can just say he deserved it. He gets every single win. He is the best now, in this moment.”

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