
Para badminton is a variant of badminton for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. It has been contested internationally since the 1990s and made its Paralympic Games debut in Tokyo in 2020. Para badminton athletes compete in men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Athletes are classified into Sport Classes to ensure fairness in competition, with six Sport Classes in total. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the main governing body for para-badminton and is responsible for regulating, promoting, and developing the sport globally. The BWF organizes the bi-annual Para-badminton World Championships in odd-numbered years and continental championships in even-numbered years. Para badminton will continue to be a part of the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Debut | Tokyo 2020 |
| Future Paralympics inclusion | Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 |
| Governing body | Badminton World Federation (BWF) |
| Sport classes | 6 |
| Event types | Men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles |
| Court length | 13.4 metres |
| Court width | 6.1 metres |
| Net height | 1.55 metres |
| Shuttlecock speed | Up to 300km/h |
| Match format | Best of three games, first to 21 points with a two-point margin of victory after 19 points |
| Notable tournaments | World Para Badminton Championships, Para Badminton International, National Para Badminton Championships |
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What You'll Learn
- Para-badminton debuted at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020
- Six sport classes for athletes depending on their type and severity of impairment
- Men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles
- The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the main governing body for para-badminton
- The shuttlecock can be made of synthetic materials and can reach speeds of up to 300km/h

Para-badminton debuted at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020
Para-badminton made its Paralympic Games debut in Tokyo in 2020. The sport has been contested internationally since the 1990s, and its inclusion in the Paralympics has been a long time coming. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has been the main governing body for para-badminton since 2011, and it is a member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The IPC recognises the BWF as the world governing body for Para badminton.
Para-badminton is a variant of badminton for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. Athletes compete in men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events. The sport classes are divided into four standing and two wheelchair categories, depending on the athletes' degree of impairment. The court size can be adapted for certain categories, such as wheelchair singles matches, where half the regular court is used.
In para-badminton, the height of the net is the same for all classes, standing at 1.55m, the same as in Olympic badminton. The shuttlecock is made of cork covered in goat skin with 16 goose feathers attached to one end, or it can be made of synthetic materials. It can reach speeds of up to 300km/h during a match.
Matches follow a best-of-three format, with the first player or team to reach 21 points in two games winning the match. After the score reaches 19 points, a side must be two points clear of their opponent to secure the win.
The BWF is responsible for regulating, promoting, and developing para-badminton globally. It promotes a "one sport – one team" philosophy, uniting badminton and para-badminton. The BWF aims to increase the player base and the quality of elite play to ensure world-class performances across all sport classes.
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Six sport classes for athletes depending on their type and severity of impairment
Para badminton is a variant of badminton for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. It has been contested internationally since the 1990s and made its Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the main governing body for para-badminton.
Para badminton athletes are classified into six different "sport classes" or "categories", depending on the type and severity of their impairment, to ensure fairness in competition. The six sport classes are:
- WH1 (Wheelchair/Severe Impairment): Athletes in this class require a wheelchair and usually have an impairment in both lower limbs and trunk function.
- WH2 (Wheelchair/Minor Impairment): Athletes in this class have an impairment in one or both lower limbs and minimal or no impairment of the trunk. They also compete in a wheelchair.
- SL3 (Standing/Lower Limb Impairment/Minor): Athletes in this class must play standing. They could have an impairment in one or both lower limbs and poor movement balance.
- SL4 (Standing/Lower Limb Impairment/Severe): Players in this class have a lesser impairment compared to SL3. They could have an impairment in one or both lower limbs and minimal impairment in walking/running balance.
- SU5: This class is for athletes with standing impairment but with a lesser degree of impairment compared to SL4.
- SH6: This class is for athletes with more severe impairments who are able to stand but have an impairment in their upper limbs.
The size of the court can be adapted for certain categories, such as wheelchair singles matches, where half the regular court is used. The height of the net is the same for all classes.
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Men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles
Para badminton made its Paralympic Games debut in Tokyo in 2020 and will also feature in the Paralympics in Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the world governing body for Para badminton.
Para badminton athletes compete in men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Athletes are classified into "Sport Classes" to ensure fairness in competition. There are six Sport Classes in total. For example, players in Sport Class SL3 usually have impairment in both lower limbs and trunk function, and play on a wheelchair.
In men's doubles, Kevin/Marcus is a notable pair due to Kevin's lightning speed and reflexes. Another pair to watch is Cai Yun+FuHaiFeng+Zhang Nan, who demonstrate a clear preference for positions on the court and smooth switches between offence and defence. Ahsan/Setiawan is another pair with a unique playstyle, as they speed up the tempo of the rally and capitalise on an out-of-position opponent.
In women's doubles, the Japanese and Chinese pairs are recommended for their longer rallies and ability to construct rallies.
Mixed doubles is a different game from men's and women's doubles, and players may pick up bad habits if they play other disciplines. For example, a woman playing mixed doubles might try to use shots that would normally score against other women but would be less likely to score against men, as men are generally faster.
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The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the main governing body for para-badminton
The Badminton World Federation, also known as the BWF, is the main governing body for para-badminton. It has held this position since June 2011, when the Para Badminton World Federation (PBWF) made a unanimous decision to join the BWF during a meeting in Dortmund. The BWF is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the world governing body for para-badminton.
Para-badminton is a variant of badminton for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. It has been contested internationally since the 1990s and made its Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games. It will also be a part of the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. The sport features men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, with athletes divided into six classes based on their level of impairment. Four of these classes are standing, while two require a wheelchair.
The BWF is responsible for regulating, promoting, and developing para-badminton globally. It aims to increase the player base and improve the quality of elite play to ensure world-class performances across all sport classes. To achieve this, the BWF works with a range of stakeholders, including its members, five Continental Confederations, commercial and media partners, and organisations supporting sport for people with physical impairments. The BWF also organises the bi-annual Para-badminton World Championships in odd-numbered years and continental championships in even-numbered years.
The BWF's vision is to give every child the chance to play badminton for life and to promote badminton as a sport for everyone, including para-badminton. It works to increase participation in para-badminton, improve the quality of competition, and foster the development of athletes. The BWF also focuses on marketing and promotion, as well as servicing its member associations.
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The shuttlecock can be made of synthetic materials and can reach speeds of up to 300km/h
Para-badminton is a variant of badminton for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the main governing body for para-badminton. The sport made its Paralympic Games debut in Tokyo in 2020 and will also be a part of the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
The equipment used in para-badminton is similar to that of regular badminton. The shuttlecock, in particular, can be made from synthetic materials. The end feathers are duck or goose feathers, while the frame of the shuttlecock is synthetic. Synthetic shuttlecocks are made with materials that approximate feathers more closely and are longer-lasting than conventional feathers. They are also cheaper than most full-feather shuttlecocks due to lower manufacturing costs. However, they may offer inferior flight paths and control compared to high-grade feather shuttlecocks.
Shuttlecock speed is a crucial factor in ensuring fair and competitive gameplay in badminton and para-badminton. The speed of a shuttlecock affects how far it travels across the court from a standard degree of force. A slower shuttlecock will fall short of a standard length and decelerate quickly, while a faster shuttlecock will travel further and at a higher speed. The speed of a shuttlecock is influenced by factors such as temperature, humidity, and altitude.
While I cannot confirm if shuttlecocks in para-badminton reach speeds of up to 300km/h, it is important to note that shuttlecock speed is a critical aspect of the game, and players and officials must ensure that the shuttlecocks meet the required speed standards before a match.
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Frequently asked questions
Para-badminton made its Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Athletes compete in men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles. They are classified into six "Sport Classes" to ensure fairness in competition, with four standing and two wheelchair classes depending on their degree of impairment.
Para-badminton follows the same rules as badminton, with some adjustments for certain impairment categories. The size of the court can be adapted for certain categories, such as wheelchair singles matches, where half the regular court is used. The height of the net is the same for all classes and stands at 1.55m, the same as in Olympic badminton.











































