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Para-badminton is a fast-growing sport that is played by people with physical and/or mental impairments. It is a modified version of badminton, with rules and equipment that are similar but adapted to suit the needs of athletes with disabilities. The sport was introduced in the 1990s and has been growing in popularity ever since, with the first World Championships taking place in 1998. Para-badminton athletes compete in men's and women's singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles, and players are classified into six different Sport Classes based on their type and severity of impairment to ensure fair competition. The objective of the game is the same as in badminton: to hit the shuttlecock over the net and onto the opponent's court, scoring a point if the opponent fails to return it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Governing body | Badminton World Federation (BWF) |
| Rules and equipment | Similar to traditional badminton |
| Assistive devices | Prosthetics or wheelchairs allowed |
| Classification system | Groups players based on their level of impairment |
| Number of Sport Classes | 6 |
| Wheelchair WH 1 | Players with limitations in both lower limbs and trunk function |
| Wheelchair WH 2 | Players with limitations in one or both lower limbs and minimal or no trunk restriction |
| Standing Lower SL 3 | Players with standing impairment and impaired function in one or both lower limbs; poor walking balance |
| Standing Lower SL 4 | Players with standing impairment but lesser impairment compared to Sport Class SL 3 |
| Standing Upper SU 5 | Players with impairment of the upper limbs |
| Short Stature SS 6 | Players with short stature due to a genetic condition |
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What You'll Learn
Rules and equipment
Para badminton is a modified version of badminton designed for athletes with physical and/or mental impairments. The rules and equipment are similar to those of traditional badminton, but with some adaptations to make the game more accessible to players with disabilities. The sport is governed by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), which outlines the rules of the game.
Para badminton can be played in men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles. The game is played on a rectangular court with a net separating the two sides, and the aim is to use a racquet to hit a shuttlecock, or "birdie", from one side of the net to the other, attempting to force an error from the opposition to win a point. A match consists of the best of three games, with each game played to 21 points. A point is scored on every serve, and the winning side of a rally gets to serve the next one. If the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until one side has a two-point lead.
Players in para badminton are classified into six different categories, or "Sport Classes", based on the type and severity of their disability. This classification system ensures that athletes with similar levels of physical ability compete against each other, creating a fairer and more balanced playing field. The six categories are:
- Wheelchair WH 1: Players with limitations in both lower limbs and trunk function who play in a wheelchair.
- Wheelchair WH 2: Players with limitations in one or both lower limbs and minimal or no trunk restriction who play in a wheelchair.
- Standing Lower SL 3: Players with standing impairment and impaired function in one or both lower limbs, along with poor walking balance.
- Standing Lower SL 4: Players with a standing impairment but with lesser impairment compared to SL 3, possibly including minimal impairment in walking balance.
- Standing Upper SU 5: Players with impairments of the upper limbs.
- Short Stature SS 6: Players with short stature due to a genetic condition often referred to as "dwarfism".
Another key difference between para badminton and traditional badminton is the allowance of certain assistive devices, such as prosthetics or wheelchairs, during competition. This further ensures that all athletes can compete at their highest level.
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Court and scoring system
Para badminton is played on a rectangular court divided into halves by a net. The court is 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide for singles matches, and the width extends to 6.1m (20ft) for doubles. The net is 1.55m (5ft 1in) high at the ends and 1.52m (5ft) high where it dips in the middle. The service courts (four in total) are each 3.96m (13ft) long and 2.59m (8.5ft) wide.
The scoring system in para badminton follows the same format as Olympic badminton. A match consists of the best of three games, with each game won by the first player or pair to score 21 points. If the score reaches 20-all, the game continues until one side gains a two-point lead, up to a maximum of 30 points (a game can be won at 30-29). Points are scored when a player or pair wins a rally, and the winner of the point also secures the next serve. In doubles, if the serving side wins a rally, the same player continues to serve but changes service courts so that they serve to each opponent in turn.
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Player classification
Para-badminton is a version of badminton adapted for athletes with physical and/or mental impairments. The rules and equipment are similar to those of traditional badminton, but with modifications to accommodate different disabilities. One of the main differences between para badminton and able badminton is the player classification system, which groups athletes based on their level of impairment to ensure fair competition.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) recognises six para-badminton player classifications, based on the type and severity of an athlete's disability. This system allows players with similar physical abilities to compete against each other.
Players who compete in wheelchairs fall under the "WH" sport class. Within this category, there are two subclasses: WH1 and WH2. WH1 athletes have limitations in both lower limbs and trunk function, while WH2 athletes have limitations in one or both lower limbs but minimal or no trunk restriction.
Athletes who compete while standing are assigned to the "SL" sport class. This class includes two subclasses: SL3 and SL4. SL3 athletes have impaired function in one or both lower limbs and poor walking balance. SL4 athletes have a lesser impairment compared to SL3 athletes, with either impaired function in one or both lower limbs and minimal impairment in walking balance.
Additionally, there is a prefix "SU" for athletes with upper limb impairments. This classification system ensures that all athletes have the opportunity to compete at their highest level, using assistive devices such as prosthetics or wheelchairs if needed.
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Assistive devices
Para badminton is a variant of badminton designed for athletes with a range of physical and/or mental impairments. It was first introduced in the 1990s and has since grown in popularity, featuring in multi-sport events like the Asian Para Games and ASEAN Para Games, as well as the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
One of the key differences between para badminton and traditional badminton is the use of assistive devices, which are allowed to level the playing field and ensure that all athletes can compete at their highest level. These devices include prosthetics and wheelchairs, with players classified into six categories based on their type and severity of disability.
The Wheelchair WH 1 class is for players with limitations in both lower limbs and trunk function who compete in wheelchairs. The WH 2 class includes players with limitations in one or both lower limbs but minimal or no trunk restriction, also using wheelchairs. For these players, a half court is used for singles matches, with the area in front of the service line near the net considered out of bounds.
The Standing Lower SL 3 class is for athletes with standing impairments, who have impaired function in one or both lower limbs and poor walking balance. The SL 4 class also includes players with standing impairments but with a lesser degree of impairment, who may have minimal impairment in walking balance. For these players, a full court is used for singles matches.
The use of assistive technology (AT) in para badminton has been studied, with occupational therapists playing a crucial role in helping athletes choose and customise the right devices for their needs. This has been shown to improve athletes' satisfaction and performance, ensuring they can compete to the best of their abilities.
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History
Para-badminton is a variant of badminton for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. The sport was first governed by the Para Badminton World Federation (PBWF) until a unanimous decision was made to join the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in June 2011. The BWF is now the main governing body for para-badminton, organizing the bi-annual Para-badminton World Championships in odd-numbered years and continental championships in even-numbered years.
Para-badminton has been contested internationally since the 1990s, with the first World Championships taking place in Amersfoort, Netherlands, in 1998. Since then, 14 editions have been held, with the latest in February 2024 in Pattaya, Thailand. The sport has grown in popularity, with over 300 athletes from more than 35 countries competing in recent editions.
Para-badminton made its Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games, featuring 90 athletes from 28 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs). Malaysia's Liek Hou Cheah captured the sport's first-ever Paralympic gold medal, with Indonesia's Sukohandoko winning the country's two gold medals. In Paris 2024, up to 120 athletes will compete in 16 medal events, including three new events for women's singles and mixed doubles.
The roots of badminton can be traced back to the ancient game of battledore and shuttlecock, played in ancient Greece, China, and India. The game was later taken to England and was first played in Gloucestershire at the estate of the 9th Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, around 1873. The sport is named after this Badminton estate. In England, new rules were introduced by the Bath Badminton Club, established in 1877, and the formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893 further standardized the rules and regulations. The first All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the world's first badminton tournament, was held in 1899, and the sport has since expanded globally.
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Frequently asked questions
Para badminton is a modified version of badminton designed for athletes with physical and/or mental impairments. The rules and equipment are similar to traditional badminton, but with some modifications to accommodate players with different types of disabilities.
Para badminton is played on a rectangular court separated by a net with a shuttlecock, also known as a shuttle or birdie. The aim is to use a racquet to pass the shuttlecock to the opposing team on the other side of the net, forcing an error and thus winning a point. A match consists of the best of three games, with 21 points required to win a game. A point is scored every time there is a serve.
One of the main differences between para badminton and able badminton is the classification system used to group players based on their level of impairment. Para badminton players are classified into six different categories, based on the type and severity of their disability. This allows players to compete against others with similar levels of physical ability, making the competition fairer.
Para badminton is a sport for everyone. It can be played by both men and women of any age with a physical impairment.
Para badminton made its Paralympic Games debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and will also be included in the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.
