Vinot Faces Must Win Match To Progress In Badminton 

Australia’s Celine Vinot will need to beat India’s Mandeep Kaur tomorrow to progress out of group B and be guaranteed a spot in the knockout stages of the Para-badminton at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. 

Vinot, who is competing at her first Paralympic Games, put up a gallant fight at Porte de la Chapelle Arena against Nigeria’s Mariam Eniola Bolaji, but was beaten in straight games 21-8, 21-14. 

“There was a lot to take out of that match…it was fantastic to get out there and play,” Vinot said. 

The result means Bolaji, who is World Badminton’s second ranked player in the SL3 singles classification, will finish top of the group after defeating Kaur by the same score. 

It leaves Vinot (8th in the rankings) and Kaur (5th in the rankings) to battle out for second place in the group and a berth into the quarterfinals. 

Australia’s head coach Ian Bridge said Vinot grew in confidence during the match and is in a good position to beat Kaur. 

“There’s no reason why she can’t. It’ll be a tough game, like all the matches here, but she’s got the ability to do it, and hopefully she will.” 

Watch the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on the 9Network and 9Now live and free, and on Stan Sport from August 28 to September 8.  

By: Laurie Lawira, Paralympics Australia

Published: 30 August 2024