Rachel Choong wins the UK Sport Inspirational Performance of the Year Award at the Lycamobile British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSA).
The BEDSAs were established by Sporting Equals in 2015, to celebrate sporting excellence within black and minority ethnic communities and help to inspire the next generation.
The Awards which took place at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London were attended by sportstars from across the country including Super-middleweight James DeGale, former England football international Sol Campbell and England International Eni Aluko.
Rachel was selected by a panel of expert judges including Rugby World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi MBE, former West Bromwich Albion favourite Brendon Batson OBE and retired international athletes Derek Redmond and Jason Gardener MBE.
Rod Carr, UK Sport Chairman, said:
“UK Sport is delighted to support the British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSA) by sponsoring the award for ‘Inspirational Performance of the Year.’ UK Sport recognises the contribution of sport towards increasing participation, social cohesion and promoting excellence from grassroots to high performance levels. It is vital that we recognise and celebrate the achievements of nominated role models such as Anthony Joshua, Kadeena Cox and Rachel Choong who play a vital role in inspiring the next generation of sporting heroes from Britain’s black and minority ethnic (BME) community. Good luck to Anthony, Kadeena and Rachel!”
Rachel made history in 2015 when she became the first para-badminton player to win 3 gold medals at the Para-Badminton Championships in Stoke. Rachel is an integral part of a British para-badminton team that has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years, with a total medal haul of 11 from the Championships.
Rachel has said about her nomination: “I am very honoured and excited to be nominated for not one but two British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards. I have worked very hard this year so it is a lovely feeling to have all my hard work recognised at such prestigious awards event.”
Arun Kang, Chief Executive Officer of Sporting Equals who founded the British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards, said:
“Rachel was nominated in not one but two categories because of her incredible performances this year at the Para-Badminton Championships. To achieve something no other athlete has done before, at the age of 21, is a fantastic achievement and therefore we are not surprised that she won the UK Sport Inspirational Performance of the Year Award this evening”.
For more information please visit the BEDSA website.