Scottish Para Badminton Stars Shine in Prague with Eight-Medal Haul
Scotland’s para badminton players delivered an outstanding performance at the Czech Para Badminton International in Prague (14–19 April), returning home with an impressive eight medals and a wealth of confidence.
The team’s success was spearheaded by Andrew Davies, who enjoyed another remarkable tournament with two gold medals and a bronze. Davies dominated the Men’s Singles SH6 event, producing one of the standout matches of the week in the semi-final where he overcame the top seed in a thrilling three-game contest, 21–18, 17–21, 21–17. Carrying that momentum into the final, he secured gold with a composed victory over D. Koprivica.
Davies’ success did not stop there. Teaming up with Owen Carmichael in the Men’s Doubles SH6, the Scottish duo produced a superb performance to claim gold. In the final, they defeated the number one seeds in straight sets, 21–16, 21–15, showcasing excellent chemistry and tactical awareness. Davies also added a bronze medal in Mixed Doubles SH6 alongside France’s Amelie Mongenot, rounding off an exceptional individual campaign.
For Carmichael, the tournament marked a significant milestone. As well as sharing gold in the doubles, he recorded his first international wins in Men’s Singles SH6, progressing confidently through the group stages to reach the quarter-finals. His breakthrough performances highlight both his development and the strength of Scotland’s emerging para badminton talent.
Sofia Mazzoni also played a leading role in Scotland’s medal success, contributing an outstanding four-medal haul of her own. She struck gold in the Women’s Doubles SL3-SU5 with Bulgaria’s Emona Ivanova, with the pair delivering a composed performance in the final to defeat M. Guiot and V. Salo 21–19, 21–14.
In the Women’s Singles SL4, Mazzoni showed resilience and quality throughout the competition, earning a well-deserved silver medal. Her semi-final proved to be one of the closest matches of the event, narrowly losing out to M. Guiot in two tight games, 21–23, 18–21. She also won a bronze in the combined SL3-SU5 women’s singles event.
Mazzoni added another bronze medal in Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 alongside India’s Takar Biri. The pair came agonisingly close to reaching the final, taking the opening set 21–19 before their opponents fought back to win the next two sets 21–16, 21–14 in a hard-fought three-game encounter.
Across the week in Prague, Scotland’s players demonstrated not only their competitive quality but also the depth and progress of para badminton within the nation. With eight medals secured and several breakthrough performances achieved, the results reflect the dedication, resilience, and ambition driving the programme forward.
As the sport continues to build momentum in Scotland, performances like these underline a bright future for para badminton, with this group of athletes leading the way on the international stage.