Virus could end Paralympic dream for British badminton player

Multiple sclerosis sufferer Mary Wilson fears the coronavirus pandemic could have robbed her of her dream to play badminton at the Paralympics.

Wilson, who hoped to qualify for Tokyo 2020, says if she does make it to Japan next year it will "be the biggest thing ever" but she recognises time may not be on her side.

The 56-year-old Scot has faced -- and overcome -- some astonishing challenges since being diagnosed with MS, a chronic neurological condition, in 2004.

She survived an attack during a military tour of duty in Afghanistan, an ugly incident involving a Ugandan policeman, and has climbed every one of the Munros, the 282 mountains in Scotland over 3,000 feet (914 metres) high.

But Wilson's Paralympic hopes are on hold after Olympics and Paralympics organisers bowed to the inevitable at the end of March, delaying both events until next year and meaning badminton could not make its Paralympic debut in 2020.

Wilson agreed with the decision but admits it is a huge blow for her personally as she has secondary progressive MS.

"It is definitely going to affect my chances with an extra year," Wilson told AFP by phone from the Edinburgh home she shares with partner Judi and their German Shepherd dog Max.

"A year is a long time trying to train hard. I feel my body is going backwards. It (the MS) is affecting it."
"It dragged on a bit (the official announcement was made on March 24). People in other countries were dying."
"They followed me back to the hotel to make sure I was going there."
"The kitchen is my gym. I do press-ups off the kitchen surface but I wear kitchen gloves as the surfaces are really sharp."
- Battle-scarred - ===================
"I heard this vehicle behind me. He had a dimmed light on and he was driving faster and faster and tried to run me over. I managed to dive off the road."
"I said to myself 'I must not show my emotions'."