Para-Badminton Star Daniel Chan Paves Way for Sports Mediation
Hong Kong para-badminton medallist Daniel Chan Ho-yuen has become the city's first para-athlete sports mediator, promoting disability inclusion in the field. The AALCO Hong Kong centre will host a mediation course in October 2026 to nurture new talent.
Hong Kong para-badminton star Daniel Chan Ho-yuen, a former Paralympic medallist, has traded the court for the mediation room, becoming the city's first para-athlete to qualify as a sports mediator. His journey from a devastating car accident to international sporting success has now inspired a new mission: boosting disability inclusion in sports dispute resolution.
Chan, who grew up in a Tsuen Wan public housing estate, was a promising badminton player training six days a week before a 2008 car accident led to the loss of his left leg. After enduring 20 general anaesthetics, 100 minor surgeries and 10 months in hospital, he discovered wheelchair badminton, a sport that rekindled his passion. His determination paid off with a bronze at the 2011 World Championships and a silver at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Following his retirement, Chan was appointed chair of the Badminton World Federation's Para Badminton Athletes' Commission and a member of the BWF Council, the first para-athlete from Hong Kong, China to hold such a role. He then set his sights on a new career, qualifying as a sports mediator, a field he believes holds untapped potential for people with disabilities.
In a recent conversation, Chan highlighted that while sports mediation is gaining recognition with support from the Central Government and the HKSAR Government, the participation of disabled stakeholders remains low. He stressed that para-athletes' unique challenges and the complex classification systems in para-sports are best understood by those within the community, making their involvement in mediation vital.
Chan hopes to open new career paths for retired para-athletes, who often face limited employment options, by encouraging them to leverage their expertise in sports mediation. To nurture such talent, the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre will host the '4th AALCO (Mediation & Sports Mediation) Course' in October 2026, inviting aspiring individuals to join this evolving field.