Bethell 'spurred on' to win Paris gold after Tokyo silver

Daniel Bethell became Britain's first ever para-badminton medallist in Tokyo

Para-badminton player Daniel Bethell said winning Paralympics silver in Tokyo has "spurred him on" to go one better and win gold in Paris.

The 28-year-old, who is also a four-time European champion, became Britain's first-ever para-badminton medallist three years ago on his Games debut.

"Getting that gold medal in Paris is the dream. Winning that silver in Tokyo was amazing, it was definitely a fulfilment of a childhood dream," Bethell told BBC Radio Somerset.

"I remember when I first started playing para-badminton the only thing I wanted was an England tracksuit and I got that about 10 years ago. If I retired and that was all I did, I'd be very happy.

"That silver medal was fantastic but it definitely spurred me on and inspired me to go on and win gold in Paris."

Bethell, from Bath, has cerebral palsy and said it was a chance internet search that helped him first discover the sport after watching the Beijing Paralympics in 2008.

He had grown up playing tennis but there was no category for his disability at para-sport level.

"I was amazed by all these athletes with the same disability as me and other disabilities doing these incredible sporting feats. I thought 'wow, that would be so cool to be a part of'," added Bethell.

"I started to look up para-sport. It was literally a Google search that I found out about para-badminton. I thought 'OK, it's a racket sport so I've got some hand eye-coordination that might transfer quite well'. I went in and tried it."

Bethell, who starts his competition on Thursday against New Zealand's Wojtek Czyz, said it will be "surreal" playing in the 8,500 capacity Porte de La Chapelle Arena after crowds were banned in Tokyo.

"I don't think I've played anywhere near a crowd of that size," he said.