Europe had a strong showing at the NSDF Thailand Para Badminton International 2025, with many top players returning to international action following the Paralympics this summer.
Lucas Mazur returns
France’s Lucas Mazur made a triumphant comeback, clinching the gold medal in SL4 men’s singles without dropping a single game. His closest challenge came in the group stages, where he defeated Chinese Taipei’s Yeh En-Chuan 21-2 21-16. In the final, he overcame India’s Naveen Sivakumar 21-15 21-12 in just 33 minutes. Mazur also picked up a bronze medal in SU5 men’s doubles, partnering with Abdoullah Ait Bella. The French duo progressed through the group stages before falling to Thailand’s Pricha Somsiri/Nattaphon Thaweesap in a tight 23-21 21-12 semifinal.
Noakes' season continues
Charles Noakes, also a Paralympic gold medallist in the SH6 category. While he has remained active on the international calender this year, a title had so far eluded him—largely due to narrow defeats against world number one Man Kai Chu of Hong Kong, who did not take part in this tournament.
Top-seeded Noakes looked strong throughout, until meeting Thailand’s rising star, Natthapong Meechai, a 17-year-old who stunned the field. Meechai outlasted Noakes in a thrilling 21-16 17-21 21-15 semifinal and went on to win the title in front of a home crowd.
Noakes, however, did not leave Thailand without gold. In men’s doubles SH6, he reunited with Korea’s Lee Daesung, with whom he finished as runners-up at the Spanish Para Badminton International 2024 – II. The duo actually faced off in the singles group stage, where Noakes won 21-11 21-8. Their partnership proved even more fruitful in Thailand, as they clinched the gold medal by defeating India’s Sudarsan Saravanakumar Muthusamy/Sivarajan Solaimala, 17-21 21-16 21-16 in a 55-minute thriller. The Indian pair previously won gold at the 6th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2025. A great feat for Noakes/Daesung, who we hope to see partner up again.
European silver medalists
Rosa Efomo De Marco (Italy) earned silver in SU5 women’s singles.
Oliwia Szmigiel (Poland) claimed silver in SH6 women’s singles, pushing world number one Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan to three games (21-11 17-21 11-21) — a rare feat against Indian star who is undefeated in 2025 in both Singles and Doubles.
Cynthia Mathez (Switzerland) brought home two silver medals, in WH1 women’s singles and WH1-WH2 mixed doubles alongside Marc Elmer.
Bronze medalists
Helle-Sofie Sagøy (Norway) – women’s singles SL4
Coraline Bergeron (France) – women’s singles SL3
Thomas Jakobs (France) – men’s singles WH2
Magdalena Kozera (Poland) – women’s singles WH2
Man Kei To (Belgium) – women’s singles WH1
Many of these athletes will be back in action at the British & Irish Para Badminton International 2025, taking place from 22nd to 26th of July in Cardiff. It promises to be another thrilling week of top-class Para badminton — see you there!
