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Kuala Lumpur, Oct 9 (IANS) Richard Perot, chair of the Badminton World Federation's Para-Badminton Athletes' Commission, Thursday hailed the sport's historic inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, terming it a "great achievement" as well as a "great responsibility".
The International Paralympic Committee's Governing Board Tuesday included badminton among the first 16 sports to be played in the 2020 Paralympics, ensuring a debut for the discipline in the quadrennial event.
"The lives of so many people are going to change. The dream of so many players around the world has come true. Para-badminton is now part of the Paralympic family. This is a great achievement for everyone who has been involved in its development," Perot said in a statement.
He thanked BWF saying the decision made him and his peers emotional.
"Look at what we have done working with BWF in the past year and imagine what the players will experience on their way to Tokyo. That's what the event is all about. It's a dream we had for a long time and it seemed unreachable but 2020 Tokyo is here now," the Frenchman said.
"As the athletes' representative, I try to help them in the best possible way and it is a big responsibility."
IPC president Philip Craven congratulated BWF for "submitting a very strong application".
"Our aim is to ensure the final 2020 Tokyo Paralympic sports programme is fresh and features the best para-sports possible," Craven said.
The full list of sports approved by the IPC are: athletics, archery, badminton, boccia, equestrian, goalball, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.
