Grant Manzoney (born 16 December 1969) is an Australian Paralympic badminton player. He competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics where badminton made its Paralympics debut.[1]

Grant Manzoney
Grant Manzoney in 2019
Personal information
Country Australia
Born (1969-12-16) 16 December 1969 (age 54)
Swan View, Australia
CoachMark Cunningham
Men's singles WH2
Men's doubles WH1–WH2
Mixed doubles WH1–WH2
Highest ranking15 (MS 22 September 2022)
31 (MD with Lochan Cowper 1 August 2022)
32 (XD with Bree Mellberg 8 November 2022)
Current ranking16 (MS)
34 (MD with Lochan Cowper)
32 (XD with Bree Mellberg) (15 November 2022)
Medal record
Men's para-badminton
Representing  Australia
Oceania Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Geelong Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 2018 Geelong Men's doubles
Gold medal – first place 2020 Ballarat Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 2020 Ballarat Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2022 Melbourne Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 2022 Melbourne Men's doubles
Silver medal – second place 2022 Melbourne Mixed doubles

Personal

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Manzoney was born on 16 December 1969[2] with congenital deformity in both legs. His right leg is missing and fibular hemimelia in his left leg causing severe deformity of his left foot and ankle. Surgery at an early age has allowed him to walk on his left foot instead of amputation. He has a prosthetic right leg since childhood.[3]He attended Swan View Senior High School.

Badminton

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After dabbling in wheelchair basketball, he discovered para-badminton in 2016 as part of Wheelchair Sports held a 'come and try day'. He is classified WH2.He has earned number one rankings in Oceania and Australia in singles and doubles in his class.[4]

He participated at the 2019 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships, Basel, where he won one match and lost two and did not reach the knockout stage.

In 2020, he defended his Oceania Para Badminton Championships Men's WH2 title.[5]

At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics,he competed in the Men's singles WH2. His first opponent in the Group Stage was Kim Kjung-hoon from Korea. He lost 2-0. He then competed against Kim Jung-Jun also from Korea. Here he also lost 2-0. Manzoney therefore did not make the quarterfinals.

His coach in Perth is Mark Cunningham.

Achievements

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Oceania Championships

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Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2018 Leisuretime Sports Precinct, Geelong, Australia   Douglas Youlten 21–3, 21–8   Gold
  Benjamin Hasselman 21–5, 21–10
  Richard Joseph Engles 21–11, 21–11
  Michael Colin McDonald 21–0, 21–5
2020 Ken Kay Badminton Stadium, Ballarat, Australia   Qambar Ali Akhteyari 21–10, 21–7   Gold
2022 Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, Melbourne, Australia   Douglas Youlten 21–4, 21–3   Gold
  Eamon Wood 21–4, 21–1
  Qambar Ali Akhteyari 21–10, 21–9

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2018[a] Leisuretime Sports Precinct,
Geelong, Australia
  Richard John Davis   Duke Trench-Thiedeman
  Douglas Youlten
21–7, 21–6   Gold
  Michael Colin McDonald
  Daniel O'Neil
21–8, 21–4
  Richard Joseph Engles
  Pradeep Hewavitharana
21–13, 21–14
2022 Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre,
Melbourne, Australia
  Lochan Cowper   Qambar Ali Akhteyari
  Richard John Davis
21–11, 21–9   Gold

Doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2020 Ken Kay Badminton Stadium,
Ballarat, Australia
  Lochan Cowper   Qambar Ali Akhteyari
  Richard John Davis
22–20, 21–16   Gold

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2022 Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre,
Melbourne, Australia
  Bree Mellberg   Richard John Davis
  Mischa Ginns
18–21, 17–21   Silver

References

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  1. ^ "Duo To Give Australian Badminton A Paralympic Boost". Paralympics Australia. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Grant Mazoney". BWF. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Grant Manzoney". Australian Sports Foundation. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  4. ^ Brown, Tyler (26 May 2017). "Grant Manzoney, Rhiannon Clarke finalists for Western Australian of the Year Awards". Wanneroo Times. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Australia's Missen and Manzoney defend their titles. Papua New Guinea take home a first silver. VICTOR Oceania Para Badminton Championships 2020". Badminton Oceania. 15 February 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2021.

Notes

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  1. ^ This tournament uses a round robin system.
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