Park Hae-sung enters 2026 Asian Para Games for South Korea

Para-badminton player Park Hae-sung enters the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games representing South Korea after a transformative journey that shifted his life from complete social isolation to international competition, yna.co.kr reported on October 8, 2026. Selected for the national team for the first time last year, the 29-year-old athlete is set to compete in three events—men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles—at the upcoming regional multi-sport games.

How a Chance Grocery Store Encounter Revived Park Hae-sung’s Life

Park’s path to competitive sports began entirely by chance during a routine errand. Speaking to reporters on October 6, 2026, at the Icheon Training Center, yna.co.kr reported that the athlete recalled walking to a local market for snacks when a stranger unexpectedly asked if he would consider visiting a community welfare center. Park initially feared the stranger intended to abduct him, but he eventually decided to visit the center out of curiosity, leading him to pick up a badminton racket for the first time.

The outlets detailed that Park experienced a significant lifestyle shift after undergoing spinal tumor removal surgery during his second year of middle school. The surgery left him with lower-body paralysis requiring a wheelchair, causing his formerly outgoing personality to turn deeply introverted. Following his high school graduation, Park spent two to three years staying almost exclusively inside his home, despite his father purchasing a car specifically to encourage him to go outside.

Massive Physical Transformation from Over 100 Kilograms to 70 Kilograms

When Park first started playing badminton, his weight exceeded 100 kilograms, earning him the nickname ‘뚱띠’ (chubby), according to reporting by yna.co.kr. Realizing that his body shape did not suit the sport and struggling to handle his competition wheelchair—which initially caused him to flip backward due to inexperience—he committed to intensive training after joining a semi-professional team.

yna.co.kr noted that rigorous training successfully dropped his weight into the 70-kilogram range. Park reflected on the change by stating that earning an income through a sport he loves has given him profound self-confidence.

“It isn’t easy to make money doing what you love, but earning money through the sport I enjoy has given me confidence.”

Park Hae-sung

Gold Medal Ambitions at the Upcoming Asian Para Games

Now a member of the Ulsan Jung-gu Office team classified under the WH1 sports disability tier, Park holds high aspirations for his debut at the continental tournament. yna.co.kr recorded his reaction to facing three simultaneous tournament divisions—men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles—as a mixture of apprehension and anticipation.

Saying “half worry, half anticipation,” he said, “I will win a gold medal. I will win at least one.”

Park Hae-sung

While media coverage outlines his readiness and triple-event entry for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya competition, the specific dates and match schedules for his individual preliminary encounters remain unreleased by tournament organizers.