This edition of ´European Para-Badminton Towards Tokyo 2020´ features Krysten Coombs from England. He is currently world number 2 in the SS6 (Short Stature) Sport Class in Men’s Singles and number 1 in Men’s Doubles together with his partner; Jack Shephard.
He first started to play badminton in 2006, at the Dwarf Sports Association (DSA) and after only a year, he participated at his first para-badminton tournament. It took him a few years and a lot of hard work to get to the top of the world rankings and he is not willing to give up his spot.
´Badminton was the one for me´
Krysten Coombs was on the Great Britain para table tennis squad before getting into badminton. He tried to play football and golf and used to swim before that as well. However badminton was the sport at which he felt like he could truly achieve something and his results prove that.
His biggest achievements since the beginning of his badminton journey are: World Number One in Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles, 2015 World Champion in Men’s Doubles, 2016 European Champion in Men’s Singles and Doubles and 2017 World Champion in Men´s Doubles and runner´s up in Men´s Singles
Listen to Coombs himself on his para-badminton journey.
His game improved significantly
During the past years he progressed a lot. He used to only make it to the semifinals and could never go any further. However, not only does he make it to the finals, he is also winning them now. Coombs says that his game improved significantly over the last period and that moving to Sheffield where his doubles partner Jack Shephard lives, has played a big role in it. On his vast improvement, Coombs added, “My coach, Richard Morris plays such a big part of me improving so much. He is such a good coach both in able-bodied and in para-badminton.”
He wants to compete at the Paralympics
Coombs’ greatest ambition for the future is to become World Champion in Men’s Singles and to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. In order to achieve his dream, Coombs is training hard, 5 times a week, around 50 hours a month and sometimes even more.
Aside from being a full-time athlete, Coombs has a part time job at IKEA. In his free time, he likes to play golf and other sports and enjoys watching football very much.
Krysten Coombs and his teammates will compete at the FZ Forza Irish Para-Badminton International in Dublin (19-24 June 2018). To follow the tournament, click
here.
To follow Krysten Coombs on Instagram, search for ´kcoombs15´.