This will be Chan Ho Yuen Daniel‘s seventh and last Para Badminton World Championships.

The Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist will bring to an end a distinguished career in the sport after the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, his revelation in Pattaya adding a poignant layer to his final pursuit of victory on the global stage.

Third on the Road to Paris in his category, Chan is on course to qualify for his second Paralympics.

“I’ve decided this World Championships and Paris 2024 to be my last tournaments. When the final shuttle falls in Paris, that will be it for me,” said the 39-year-old.

“When I started Para badminton (in 2010) I thought what would the right moment to retire be. I want to step away while at the top, then everyone can remember me as an elite (Hong Kong China) player, instead of someone past his best. The perfect way is to retire on the podium at the Paralympics.”

A dedicated fan of retired French footballer Zinedine Zidane, Chan’s determination and skill have left an indelible mark on the world of Para badminton.

“Before my accident, I was a crazy football fan, especially Zidane. After his last match at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he retired. He’s an icon with a legendary career in football and that’s the way I would like to be.”

On his goals in Pattaya, the 2019 WH2 men’s singles silver medallist shared: “I’ve been playing for 14, 15 years. I’ve never been world No.1 or held a World Championship title. Getting a medal is my target but gold is the top one. I’d like to upgrade from silver.”

Chan plays homester Aphichat Sumpradit in his final Group C match today. A win will secure him his quarterfinal ticket.