For the Para Badminton World Championships-bound Jaime Aranguiz, badminton is more than just a sport; it has helped him grow as a person.

“It’s a beautiful and generous sport. We face each other on court but off it, we are brothers and friends. I don’t think many sports are like this,” says Aranguiz, set to feature in five events in Pattaya, Thailand, where the NSDF ROYAL CLIFF BEACH BWF Para Badminton World Championships 2024 is scheduled to take place next week (20-25 February).

Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, Aranguiz picked up badminton after being introduced to it in 2015 by his former mixed doubles partner and fellow Chilean Catalina Jimeno.

“I’ve played handball, basketball and even competed in 100m and 200m track racing, but after being introduced to badminton, I knew it was the right fit for me.”

It has been a struggle although his recent WH2 men’s singles win at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games has boosted his confidence.

“Winning that gold in my country was special,” said Aranguiz, who also took the WH1-2 mixed doubles title with Man-Kei To at the Western Australia Para Badminton International last season.

Standing out on the circuit for his coloured-hair and tattoos, Aranguiz’s current 10th place in the world and Race to Paris men’s singles rankings offers him a glimmer of hope of becoming a Paralympian and he’s already putting in the work with six hours on court and two hours of physical training daily.

“I’ve even had to change my wheelchair but it will be a proud feeling if I get to play at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, because it will mean that I have achieved a very high standing in this sport.”