We interviewed England’s Martin Rooke this week as he prepares for the Spanish International, the final tournament for Paralympic qualifying.

With just one tournament remaining in the calendar of Paralympic qualifying, 12 months on from its original schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Para badminton is back on the radar this week as the world’s best congregate in Cartegena, Spain.

European WH2 men’s singles Champion Martin Rooke sits at number five in the Race to Tokyo rankings. This week’s results will not affect the four men placed above him, and so if things go to plan in the Paralympic men’s doubles roster which takes priority over the singles, Rooke should qualify for the Games if he is able to hold on to fifth position.

Purpose built for European badminton fans, the only man capable of upsetting Rooke’s Paralympic dream is Israel’s Amir Levi who sits just 170 points behind Rooke in sixth place in the Race to Tokyo. With Rooke and Levi seeded two and three respectively in Spain this week, a potential semi-final matchup of the two men featured in the last European Championships final would undoubtedly become the biggest match in either man’s life.

Read: Lanier survives 30-29 game to set up revenge match in main draw

We spoke with Martin Rooke to find out how he feels about being back out there on the tournament circuit and competing in Spain after such a long break from competition. He had this to say,

- I am glad it is going ahead this week, but it is going to be difficult for everyone involved, from players to organisers. It is still tough times but I’m hoping this week will be a success for our sport and that everyone can compete to their best

- Our team have been very lucky in the UK really, as we’ve training throughout most of this last year through the pandemic. It has been a bit of a slog at times, nothing but training, but we’re fit and healthy and so we can’t complain.

We asked the Englishman how it feels to finally be going into a competition against other WH2 players, and whether the ongoing pandemic effects in other areas of the world trouble him this week. He said,

- it would have been perfect if I had more wheelchair players to compete against over this past year, but unless you’re Japanese, Chinese or Korean who have a lot of players in each category, nobody has been able to compete against one another. So all the Europeans are in the same position and it is, what it is.

- I can’t control what’s happening with other players, or in other countries, I can only try to control the environment that I am in with my family or teammates on a daily basis. Selfish as it may sound, I have to focus on that and look after myself to get to the next competition and play at the best level I can. Nothing else comes in to my head, just that, added the world number three.

- I’m aware this tournament is going to be run differently to others, we may not have the same access to things like the food we’d like or enjoy the freedoms that we are used to, but I can adapt quite well and I’m reasonably happy being limited to my room. I don’t need the social aspect of the event, I’m here to do a job, said Rooke

European rivals head-to-head for the Paralympics

So finally, we asked Martin Rooke about his chances for Paralympic qualification and the rivalry with Amir Levi who beat the Englishman at their last meeting in Brazil last February. He had this to say,

- No, I am not 100% sure of the rankings, or the consequences of this week. I do not like to trouble myself with such things like where my main rivals sit or what each of us might need to do, I just know that I have to compete at my best level in every competition I go into. 

- If I play my best and then at the end of the day I come away and I haven’t made it, then fair enough. But that isn’t going to happen, I’m going to go give it my best again this week and that should be enough to come away knowing that I have booked a seat on that plane to Tokyo, he added.

Follow the Spanish Para badminton international tournament with us this week and across our usual platforms. The schedule and results can be found on tournament software here