Para-badminton athlete Bobby Griffin has expressed his utmost delight after the decision to feature the sport in the Paralympics of the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The decision was announced earlier this week, with the International Paralympic Committee releasing the inclusion of several news sports into the game, including badminton.
Bobby believes that this move will now see more funds being dispersed and invested in it, which is likely to aid countless amount of individuals within the sport, who primarily struggle to survive as semi-professionals.
“We’ve been trying to get into the Paralympic Games for six years, and it feels so good to finally get in for 2020,” said Griffin.
“It’s great news for the sport and gives something back to all of the players and coaches that have done their part, so it’s great to be part of the Paralympic movement finally. I couldn’t be happier.
“It will make a huge difference, potentially life-changing for some.
“You look at the example of table tennis being added a few years ago – they received an extra £4 million worth of funding.
“We’ve mainly had to be self-funded but the extra funding will help us in terms of kits, equipment and training, and might even give us a little bit of a wage.”
Since amputating his leg due to an accident in 2008, Bobby Griffin has cemented himself as one of the most skilled para-badminton athlete in the UK and Europe as a whole.
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