Coombs targets Paralympic gold medal in Paris

Krysten Coombs won badminton bronze in the SH6 category at the last Paralympics in Tokyo in 2021

Badminton player Krysten Coombs says he is aiming to take gold at the 2024 Paralympics for Great Britain.

The 33-year-old from Totnes in Devon won bronze in Tokyo three years ago on the sport's debut.

Now Coombs - who competes in the SH6 category for athletes with dwarfism - hopes he can do even better.

"Obviously, the dream is win a gold," he told BBC Radio Devon.

"But if I could upgrade that medal it would be amazing or even stay the same again.

"To experience the whole thing and being there is a dream.

"I've got the results. I've got the backing and I'm feeling confident and niggle free and ready to go now."

Coombs left Devon for Sheffield in 2018 when he became fully funded by UK Sport after badminton was included in the Paralympics.

He says being a full-time athlete for the past six years has helped develop his talent to the point where he has won silver and bronze medals at the World Championships in singles having previously won European and World doubles titles.

And he feels his chances are good, despite fierce competition from other nations.

"China is always a big one, India is a big one, France have got a guy this year and us GB guys we're actually up there," Coombs said.

"We have been dominating the circuit - we've always been coming away from internationals with medals."

Having watched the Olympic Games in Paris Coombs has been able to get an idea of the venue he will be playing at.

He can also count on lots of support from friends and family with the event being held so close to the UK - unlike Tokyo where there were no spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Badminton's got quite a big following in France anyway, so hopefully that's going to increase that and ticket sales are good," Coombs said.

"I've got loads of friends and family coming over which is going to be amazing, [after] going to Tokyo and not having that experience with your loved ones and the people that supported you for so many years.

"I can't wait for them to be able to see it and even people back home - being on the same time zone pretty much is going to be a lot better than Tokyo."

Krysten Coombs has been a full-time para badminton player since 2018