Category: News

03/08/202311/08/2023

Over the last month, we are proud to have run a campaign honouring the achievements and commitment of para-athletes across a variety of sports.

The campaign sought to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the talent and perseverance of para-athletes, as well as highlighting our dedication to promoting inclusivity in sports, and creating a level playing field for all athletes, regardless of their physical abilities.

Among the remarkable stories during the campaign was the interview with Egyptian Badminton star, Yasmina Eissa, and Loughborough’s Head of Para Sport, Alasdair Donaldson.

Eissa, formerly the Vice Chair of the Para Sports Exec at Loughborough University, spoke of her excitement about the future of para sports, whilst Donaldson explained more on Loughborough University’s efforts and commitment in creating an inclusive sporting landscape for their students.

Click here to read the full interview.

We also collaborated with Special Olympics Great Britain, speaking with talented athletes, Matthew Brough, who competes in tennis, and Ethan Orton, who competes in badminton. Both athletes reflected on their triumphs at this year’s World Games in Berlin, and how they aim to use their experience of the Special Olympics to encourage more disabled athletes to participate in sport.

Click here to read the full interview.

YTP Ambassador Amy Thompson’s recent victory in the Women’s Ambulant shot put at the Senior & Para Open Championships is another step towards her long-term goals. Thompson, who also equalled her personal best in the Women’s Under-18 shot put at Loughborough Pathway Internationals, touched on the barriers she has overcome and her aim to make sport more inclusive in the future.

Click here to watch the full interview.

Speaking about the campaign, Andrew Ronnie, Group Executive Chairman at Kukri Sports, said, “We are very proud to have launched this campaign dedicated to shining a light on para-athletes. The accomplishments of these athletes are a testament to them and their relentless dedication, and we are proud to continue to provide elite sportswear that will help them perform at their best and feel comfortable whilst competing.”

Kukri remains dedicated to advancing inclusivity in sports and creating a more accessible and supportive environment for all athletes.

We are proud to be partnered with British Wheelchair Basketball and Special Olympics, as well as a host of Universities, schools and clubs in supporting their para-athletes across a wide range of sports.

01/08/202301/08/2023

As part of our ongoing campaign on supporting para-athletes in sport, Kukri Sports recently caught up with Youth Talent Programme Ambassador and para-athlete, Amy Thompson.

Thompson, who joined Kukri as a YTP Ambassador last year, is a remarkable para-athlete who was recently crowed Ambulant Shot Put Champion at this year’s England Athletic Open and Senior Para Championships.

Commenting on her triumph, Thompson was full of pride, “Being Ambulant shot put champion means a lot to me. It shows my development over the past year, as last year I hadn’t medalled at the Senior Championships.

“I also loved the experience of competing alongside able-bodied shot putters.”

Thompson, who initially started her journey into sports at a young age after joining Dwarf Sports Association, recounts her eventual transition into shot put and discus. “The charity really helped me and other people by introducing dwarfism to sport.

“I started throwing frisbees and cricket balls, and then I got picked up from a local club because I was pretty good at it. As I got older, I moved onto shot put and discus with a club in Wavertree. It’s just evolved from there, where it’s gradually got more competitive and moved into para sports.”

Thompson also touched on her training, and the preparation required for each discipline. “Shot put requires a lot of speed and that applies to discus too. You need speed and momentum to get it far, and then you also need a lot of flexibility in your joints to get as much momentum as you can around the implements,” she explains, emphasising the dedication and hard work that have led to her success.

As a Kukri YTP Ambassador, Amy aims to promote awareness about para-athletes participating in both shot put and discus events, whilst also tackling the stigma and stereotypes around para-athletes.

“What England Athletics are doing with the Youth Talent Programme is really good with the inclusion of para-athletes. It’s really helped with the integration between the YTP athletes and the para-athletes because it creates a relative between us all.

“It’s nice as we all know each other and can support each other in future competitions that we might be in.”

Being a para-athlete in both shot put and discus has shaped her perspective on the importance of adaptive sports and inclusivity. “When I initially started shot put and discus at a young age, it took me a while to adapt to the weights and implements involved compared to other able-bodied athletes my age.

“I think it’s important that every implement is adapted to suit the individual needs of athletes with differing disabilities. It’s important that this is done, as it would not only help the adaptiveness of competitions, but also increase participation for disabled athletes who might currently be restricted,” she explains.

Throughout her journey, she draws inspiration from sporting role models, such as Jonnie Peacock and seven-time Paralympic champion, Hannah Cockroft. “It’s great to see them flourishing in their sport, and I take a lot of inspiration from both of them.”

In Thompson’s opinion, the shotput and discus events stand out as inclusive for para-athletes due to the change of weights, implements, and sizes, along with the introduction of the Raza point score system, enabling fair comparisons among athletes of differing levels of disability.

To cope with the pressure of competition, she adopts a focused mindset. “I stay focused and just stick to my own distances. My mum used to say, ‘you are here to break your own personal best and not anyone else’s,’ and that has really helped me to stay focused on myself and not get distracted by other athletes,” she reveals.

Reflecting on the challenges faced as a para-athlete, Thompson addressed the misconceptions and the importance of showcasing disabled athletes in the media. “The pre-conception of disabled athletes is stereotypical; they think we’re not as capable as able-bodied athletes.

“I’m frustrated for disabled athletes that don’t get into sports because they get into the mindset that they are not able to get into sport when everyone else is.

“If it’s shown more within the mainstream media, then other athletes looking to participate will feel more inspired and encouraged to get into sport,” she advocates.

Looking ahead, Amy aspires to continue developing her athletic performances and participating in bigger and better competitions. She also aims to play a more active role in the media industry, posting frequently on her channels to drive the narrative of acceptance for disabled athletes in sports.

To her fellow para-athletes who might be hesitate to pursue shot put, discus, or any other sport due to their disability, she sends an empowering message, “From my experiences, sport really helps you to grow your confidence, and it really helps you on a personal level and with your mental well-being too.”

Kukri is proud to stand alongside Amy Thompson in her journey as a disabled athlete in sport. We fully support her in her aims to promote awareness, inclusivity, and recognition for other para-athletes’ dedication and achievements.

For more information about Amy Thompson, click here.

Visit the news section of our website to view more content in our mission to support para-athletes in sport.

#UnleashGreatness

31/07/202331/07/2023

As part of our ongoing campaign on supporting para-athletes in sport, Kukri Sports recently sat down with two Special Olympics Great Britain stars to discuss their experience of this year’s World Games.

Kukri Sports, a committed advocate for inclusivity in sports, is delighted to share an interview with Special Olympics Great Britain stars, Matthew Brough and Ethan Orton. This interview is part of our ongoing campaign to show our support for para athletes and shed light on their remarkable achievements in the world of sports.

Matthew Brough, a talented tennis player, and Ethan Orton, a skilled badminton player, both represented Great Britain at the Special Olympics World Games, showcasing their extraordinary talents on an international stage.

Matthew shared his pride of representing Great Britain for the first time at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, where he accomplished a dream he had set his sights on. “It’s something I’ve always dreamt about and wanted to achieve. Last year, I won an award for York Disabled Sports Person of the Year, and I said at the time my goal was to qualify for the World Games in Berlin, and I did just that.”

His teammate, Ethan, was also full of pride when reflecting on his achievements at this year’s World Games in Berlin. “Representing Special Olympics GB is the best sporting achievement in my life up to this point. It means everything to me as I’m not only representing Wales, my country, but also the whole of the UK, which was great to be a part of.

“Winning gold in the Badminton men’s singles was an amazing feeling. I was proud enough to compete, but to win gold and silver medals on top of that, whilst also overcoming my barriers leading up to the games, was fantastic for me on a personal level.”

The Special Olympics Games also brought memorable moments for Matthew, where he won bronze in the mixed doubles with his teammate, Emily Clarke, and secured a gold medal in the men’s singles against Team Brazil. Reflecting on the accomplishments, he expressed his pride, saying, “To win a gold medal was just an amazing feeling. I’ve been showing them around my hometown, and everyone has been fully supportive and happy for me.

“It’s amazing to show them and repay the support that everyone has shown me throughout my athletic career up to this point.”

Matthew also acknowledged the unwavering support from his coaches, Paul Singleton and Chris Enock, as well as his family, who have played a significant role in his journey. “Having someone to talk to like my coaches made me feel much more relaxed, which then helped my performance on the court.

“The positive feedback and energy that my coaches gave me and my teammates helped to motivate us and play the best we can.”

The athletes shared their passion for promoting Special Olympics and breaking barriers in the sporting world. “I think there needs to be more recognition of the Special Olympics, because we have athletes who are capable of competing in the Paralympic Games in the future,” added Ethan.

Matthew said, “We’re fortunate to get this opportunity, and it’s something that I would like more people to know about because, in my opinion, it’s the best sporting event in the world. It’s the best inclusive sporting event ever.”

Ethan’s journey with Special Olympics GB has not only brought him sporting success, but has also transformed his life and mental health. He shared, “Competing in sports has helped my behaviour and improved my mental health.

“When I was younger, I was playing against mainstream players in mainstream competitions. I wasn’t doing very well and that affected me and put me down, but then my badminton coach from my local club had a contact from Special Olympics. The coach from Special Olympics came to see me play and eventually took me on.”

As part of their future goals, both athletes aspire to further promote Special Olympics and inspire younger athletes with disabilities. Matthew said, “I want to inspire lots of others with special needs to participate in sport and achieve their dreams, and, most importantly, be happy with what they are doing,”

Ethan added, “I want to try and make clubs recognise Special Olympics more. There’s people with disabilities at clubs that don’t know anything about it or the benefits it can bring, so I hope promoting Special Olympics more will really help in increasing long-term participation.

“There are always going to be people who bring you down, you’ve just got to ignore them and try your best. Opportunities are out there, you’ve just got to go and find them and prove to everyone that you are as capable as anyone else, and that’s what we want to raise more awareness of in the future.”

Kukri remains committed to supporting athletes with disabilities, like Matthew Brough and Ethan Orton, and would like to congratulate them and their teammates’ extraordinary achievements at this year’s World Games.

Kukri is a proud partner of Special Olympics GB. Click here to find out more about them.

Click here to view more of our supporting para sports content.

#UnleashGreatness

27/07/202327/07/2023

As part of Kukri Sports’ ongoing commitment to celebrating the accomplishments and perseverance of para-athletes, we are proud to present an exclusive interview featuring Alasdair Donaldson, Head of Para Sport at Loughborough University, and Egyptian Badminton star, Yasmina Eissa.

Yasmina Eissa, an Egyptian badminton player and current Loughborough university student, shared her inspiring journey into the world of para sports. “I’ve always been passionate about badminton and was very active when I was younger, competing in a variety of sports.

“When my coach discovered para sports and encouraged me to participate in the World Championships in Korea, it opened up a whole new world for me. I realised the potential of para-badminton and how it allows athletes like me to excel. From there, I knew that was the sport I wanted to continue competing in moving forwards.”

Eissa, who was also the Vice Chair of the Para Sports Exec at Loughborough University this year, continues to play her part in striving towards inclusivity. “Throughout the year we have enjoyed a lot of events, whether that be the ‘Para Sports takeover week’, where we get a lot of people to learn more about para sports and try out para sports such as Wheelchair Tennis and Wheelchair Basketball.

“It allows students with disabilities to come out and play their sport, which they wouldn’t have been able to do in the past because it wasn’t as inclusive.”

Expressing her excitement about the future of para sports, Eissa said, “I believe that para sports can achieve even greater recognition and exposure, just like women’s sports. London 2012 was a turning point for the Olympics, and I hope to see more coverage and opportunities for para-athletes on a global stage.

“I think there’s a lot of misconceptions when you think of the Paralympics, so for me it’s about debunking any myths or stereotypes, and really showing people what it actually is and the talent within it.”

Alasdair Donaldson, who was appointed Loughborough University’s new Head of Para Sport last year following almost ten years at British Triathlon, has played a pivotal role in promoting para sports at Loughborough University.

Donaldson, who graduated from Loughborough University in 1998, shared his thoughts on the university’s long-standing history of supporting para-athletes. “Para sports is not a new thing at Loughborough University, but the focus on it is.

“We have witnessed some exceptional athletes over recent years like Tanni Grey-Thompson, one of Britain’s greatest Paralympic athletes, Clare Griffiths, and Dan Greaves, who have all graduated from Loughborough and achieved incredible success in their respective para sports careers.

“The university has been a nurturing ground for para-athletes, fostering an inclusive environment where they train alongside their non-disabled peers.”

Highlighting the university’s commitment to supporting para-athletes in balancing their athletic pursuits and studies, Donaldson said, “The focus goes on the person first; they are here to be students, and we work with them to find a balance between their athletic commitments and academic studies.

“Our cooperative and integrated coaching and support teams ensure that all student-athletes, regardless of their abilities, receive the necessary assistance to thrive and flourish in their sport.”

Donaldson emphasised Loughborough university’s commitment to creating an inclusive sporting landscape and their ambitious plans for the future. “We want to ensure para athletes get the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers.

“We are establishing a Universities/Higher Education working group, where para sports will take the front seat. Our aim is to make every one of our 62 Athletics clubs inclusive and welcoming to everyone who wants to participate.”

Donaldson also touched on Loughborough university’s dedication to increasing the provision for disabled students to engage in sports. “We want to make sure that those who were told at school that sports wasn’t for them have the opportunity to participate. We aim to expand para-coaching provisions with various sports and encourage disabled participants to become confident leaders in sports.

“We go into the community and bring the community into us as effectively as we can. The work done by our students, like Abbie Breakwell, who runs participatory events for wheelchair tennis every week, is a testament to the positive impact of community engagement in developing sports for everyone.”

Kukri remains committed to championing para sports and promoting the stories of exceptional athletes like Yasmina Eissa.

Kukri are proud partners of Loughborough University – providing brand-new match apparel, training and leisurewear across the whole of Loughborough’s varied sporting offer. Click here to find out more about them.

Keep an eye out for more para sports content coming soon.