Lucas Mazur takes Europe’s first Paralympic Gold medal in the SL4 men’s singles after a 62-minute battle with Suhas Yathiraj
The Indian took the opening game 21-15 after Mazur gave away his early lead and was unable to come back to challenge Suhas. The second game was a closely fought affair, Mazur coming back from four points down to take a lead and close out 21-17.
Although the deciding game was tight, Lucas had an early lead and eventually stretched that out to ensure there was no way back for Suhas. In a match that lasted over an hour, it was a thrilling victory for the Frenchman as history is made with Mazur taking Europe’s first ever Paralympic Gold medal. He had this to say after the final
- What a match today. I performed so well and I was waiting for a good opportunity today. I’ve been waiting so long time for this moment. Today, I was present, today I was the best and today I’m the Paralympic champion.”
On how he was able to come back from losing the first game and being down in the third:
- I went back to my memories and I’m looking for strong moments, the love moments with my family with my coach and my friends. It helped me a lot. Today my win is for everybody, the support helped me so much. I need this energy to bring a gold medal. Today, I did it.
Read: Bethell takes the silver medal
Agonising 4th for Sagoey in the women’s singles
The challenge was too big today for Helle Sofie Sagoey in the SL4 women’s singles bronze medal match. The serve went back and forward throughout the match, nerves playing a part as neither player could get a good rhythm.
Her opponent, China’s Ma Hui Hui had the quality went it mattered at the crucial moments, taking the bronze medal with a 21-12, 21-5 result.
Suisse wheelchairs miss bronze
The WH1-2 women’s doubles bronze medal match was contested this morning, and for a pair of WH1 category players to even make it the Paralympic semi-finals is a huge achievement.
Karin Suter-Erath and Cynthia Mathez can take a lot of pride from their Paralympic campaign, despite missing out on the bronze medal 21-11, 21-12. Third seed opponents were too strong today, Amnouny Wetwithan and her partner Sujirat Pookkham collecting the bronze here to add to her WH1 singles silver medal.
The BWF Paralympic badminton live blog feed can be found here for a follow up of today’s results, pics, videos and social media