Para-badminton

David Toupé, one of para-badminton players from WH1 class.

Para-badminton is a variant of badminton for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the main governing body for para-badminton starting from June 2011. The sport was governed by Para Badminton World Federation (PBWF) until a unanimous decision to join BWF during a meeting in Dortmund in June 2011. ^[1] In the wheelchair singles and SL3 classes a half court is used for play, with the area in front of the service line, near to the net, out of bounds. A full court is used for the SL4, SU5 and SH6 classes and all doubles matches. The height of the net is the same for all classes.

Classification

Players are classified to six ^[2] different classes determined by BWF:

Wheelchair

• WH1
  Players in this class are those who have impairment in both lower limbs and trunk function and require wheelchair to play

• WH2
  Players have impairment in one or both lower limbs and minimal or no impairment of the trunk and also require wheelchair

Standing

Bartłomiej Mróz, one of para-badminton players from SU5 class.

• SL3
  Players have impairment in one or both lower limbs and poor walking/running balance

• SL4
  Players have impairment in one or both lower limbs and minimal impairment in walking/running balance (better walking/running compared to SL3)

• SU5
  Players have impairment of the upper limbs.

Short stature

• SH6
  Players in this class have short stature caused by achondroplasia or other genetic conditions.

Competitions

BWF organizes the bi-annual Para-badminton World Championships and continental championships, originally with the World championships in odd numbered years, and continental championships in even numbered years, before switching in 2022. ^[3] Para-badminton also features in other multi sports events like the Asian Para Games ^[4] and ASEAN Para Games.

Para-badminton was successfully introduced at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo with 14 events, becoming the third racquet sport to be included in the games after wheelchair tennis and table tennis. ^[5] At the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, two further events were added to the schedule for a total of 16.

When it was introduced

Para badminton has been contested internationally since the 1990s

References

1. ""One Sport, One Team" BWF to govern Para-badminton". IWASF (International Wheelchair and Amputee Sport Federation). Archived from the original on 12 August 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
2. "Para-badminton". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
3. "World Championships (Para-badminton)". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
4. Borrie, Stuart; Alleyne, Gayle. "Asian Para-Games 2014 – Prelude to Paralympics". bwfbadminton.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
5. "IPC announces final Tokyo 2020 Paralympic sports programme". paralympic.org. Retrieved 31 August 2016.