Former world champion para-badminton player Andrew Martin spoke to Fen Regis Trophies of the pride of his achievements, as well as the heartbreak of missing out on the Paralympics.
Andrew is a lover of sport in general, supporting his beloved Millwall and once upon a time been considered a Paralympic hopeful in javelin. Competing in the SS6 classification, the group for participants living with achondroplasia (dwarfism), Andrew boasts an array of world and European wins.
The 2014 European men’s singles championship, in his own words, is his finest achievement on court. Had it not been for narrowly missing out on the Paralympic Games in 2021, Andrew’s answer would almost certainly have been different.
“The one thing that I wanted to do was be in the Paralympics,” Andrew told Fen Regis Trophies. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t to be.”
The 2020 Paralympics, pushed back to 2021 due to Covid, was the first Games to include para badminton. Despite his best efforts, Andrew was pipped to the post for a spot on the team.
“There was only a limited amount of space,” he explained. “We were told there was only going to be eight in the draw and the only way for two from the same country could be in was if they were ranked number one and two [in the world].”
A Lover of All Sports
Growing up in Orpington, Greater London, the Orpington badmintonist never allowed his disability to prohibit him from participating in any sport.
“Whatever sport was on TV when I was growing up,” Andrew said. “I was in the garden playing it.
“My parents hated the Wimbledon fortnight because our back garden turned into Centre Court and the grass became warn and thin.”
“I’m just passionate about sport,” he added. “When I was younger, my parents always encouraged me to try something and, if I liked it, we would see what the potential could be.”
Badminton
Through a journey that took him through athletics, football, and even powerlifting, it was on a family holiday that Andrew discovered badminton. Since picking up a racket, he has never looked back.
“It was something that I thought, ‘Oh, this is fun’. This is something different.
“When playing at school, I got even more into it; learning the skills, learning the tactics of playing games…and then when I went to started going to the Dwarf Sports Association National Games.”
Orpington Juniors Badminton Club, Andrew’s local club, is where he first honed his craft, specifically under Paul Parham.
“I’ve got a lot to thank Paul for,” he said. “Paul got me into a good position.”
As badminton grew from a hobby to an obsession, Andrew linked up with a second coach in James Elkin as he moved to Somerset. As it turned out, the two coaches knew each other and Andrew benefitted from having two coaches happy to work together for his development.
“I found James,” said Andrew. “I asked Paul if he would be happy with me working with him and he said yes, and that James is a fantastic coach.
“Paul put together a list of things to work on so that James and I could go hell for leather at it to advance my game.”
Andrew added: “Without those two, I wouldn’t have been in the position I got to in all my tournaments.”
Not Done Yet
Altogether, he boasts four doubles world titles and five European doubles titles along with the European men’s singles titles he won in 2014. Though an appearance at a Paralympic Games may have alluded him, Andrew can look back on a highly successful career…and he’s not quite ready to announce his retirement yet.
“I’ve not said I’ve retired,” he said. “I’ve taken some time away from the game and maybe there is one last hurrah where I go and play in a competition just to see how it goes.
“There will never be a time when I step on the court and there is no competitiveness in me…I will compete and fight for everything.”
Whatever happens next for Andrew, he has enjoyed a trophy-laden career on a journey that began on the courts at Orpington Juniors Badminton Club, which is where he says he will give back to the sport.
By Aaron Gratton