Amanda Knapp
Para badminton is a Paralympic sport that debuted at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It is a variant of badminton for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. The sport has been contested internationally since the 1990s, with the first Para badminton world championships taking place in the Netherlands in 1998. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is 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 six Sport Classes to ensure fairness in competition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Debut | Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games |
| Governing Body | Badminton World Federation (BWF) |
| Court Length | 13.4 metres |
| Court Width | 6.1 metres |
| Net Height | Same for all classes |
| Sport Classes | 6 |
| Wheelchair Singles Court Type | Half court |
| SL3 Court Type | Half court |
| SL4 Court Type | Full court |
| SU5 Court Type | Full court |
| SH6 Court Type | Full court |
| Doubles Court Type | Full court |
| Athletes | Men, women, boys, and girls |
| Athlete Impairments | Physical impairments like spinal injury, scoliosis, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, amputations, cerebral palsy, hip dysplasia, leg length difference, upper limb amputation or impairment, and short stature |
| Competition Format | Best of three games, first to 21 points with a two-point margin after 19 points |
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What You'll Learn
Para-badminton is a Paralympic sport
Para-badminton is a variant of badminton for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. It has been contested internationally since the 1990s, with the first Para-badminton World Championships taking place in the Netherlands in 1998. The sport is governed by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), which 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, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles. Athletes are classified into six different "Sport Classes" to ensure fairness in competition. These Sport Classes include four standing and two wheelchair classes, depending on the athlete's degree of impairment. In the wheelchair singles and SL3 classes, a half court is used for play, while a full court is used for the SL4, SU5, and SH6 classes and all doubles matches.
The rules of Para-badminton are similar to those of badminton. 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 aim is to use a racquet to pass a shuttlecock over the net without it being returned by the opposing team, scoring points and winning the game.
Para-badminton is a growing sport that is attracting more and more participants each year, both competitively and socially. It is played in over 60 countries worldwide and is governed by the BWF, which promotes a ""one sport – one team" philosophy, including both badminton and Para-badminton.
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Six sport classes for athletes
Para badminton athletes are divided into six sport classes, depending on the type and severity of their impairment. This classification system ensures fairness in competition. The six 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 are also required to play using 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
Little information is available on this sport class. However, it is known that athletes in this class play on a full court.
SH6
Similarly, little information is available on this sport class, but athletes in this class also play on a full court.
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Wheelchair singles and doubles
Para badminton, a variant of badminton for athletes with physical disabilities, debuted at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. It was governed by the Para Badminton World Federation (PBWF) until 2011 when it came under the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The sport is played in over 60 countries worldwide and is recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as a sport for everyone.
Para badminton athletes are classified into six "Sport Classes" to ensure fairness in competition. Two of these classes are for wheelchair users. Athletes in the WH1 class have impairment in both lower limbs and the trunk function and require a wheelchair to play. WH2 players have impairment in one or both lower limbs and minimal or no impairment of the trunk and also require wheelchairs.
Wheelchair badminton players use sports wheelchairs with rear and front stabilisers to prevent chairs from tipping backwards. The competition wheelchairs incorporate a number of modifications to aid players, such as a low backrest and extra wheels at the back. No other adapted badminton equipment is required.
In terms of gameplay, the rules and set-up are largely similar between badminton and para badminton. Players score points by hitting a shuttlecock over the net without the opponent returning it. Matches follow a best-of-three format, where the first player or team to reach 21 points in two games wins. After the scores reach 19 points, a side must be two points clear of their opponent to secure the win. In the wheelchair singles and SL3 classes, a half court is used for play, with the area in front of the service line, near the net, out of bounds.
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Court and equipment specifications
Para-badminton is an indoor racket sport played either as singles or doubles, with players positioned on opposite halves of a court separated by a net. The badminton court measures 13.4 metres in length and 6.1 metres in width. Players in classes WH1, WH2, and SL3 compete on a singles court, while all other classes and doubles events use the full court. The net stands at 1.55 metres high, the same as in Olympic badminton.
The shuttlecock, or shuttle, is made of natural and/or synthetic materials, with flight characteristics similar to those of a natural feathered shuttle with a cork base covered by a thin layer of leather. The racket shall be a frame not exceeding 680mm in overall length and 230mm in maximum width, consisting of a handle, shaft, throat, head, and stringed area.
Wheelchair badminton is played on half court for singles and full court for doubles. The court is modified to exclude the back two corners for singles play. Athletes use specialised sports wheelchairs designed for agility and speed on the court. These competition wheelchairs incorporate a number of modifications to aid players, including a low backrest to avoid interference with a player's movement and extra caster wheels at the rear to prevent the chair from overturning when the player reaches backwards to hit the shuttlecock. In wheelchair badminton, players must maintain contact with the wheelchair when striking the shuttlecock, and their feet must not touch the floor.
Standing classes may play on either a half or full court in singles but always on a full court for doubles. Athletes in these classes may use standard badminton equipment, with allowances for prosthetics and other assistive devices.
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History of the sport
Para badminton is a fast-paced racket sport adapted for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. It is played by people with impairments in their upper and/or lower limbs. The sport has been contested internationally since the 1990s, with the first Para Badminton World Championships taking place in Amersfoort, Netherlands, in 1998.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the world governing body for Para badminton, a role it has held since 2011. Before this, the sport was governed by the Para Badminton World Federation (PBWF). The International Badminton Association for Disabled (IBAD), founded in 1995 in Stoke Mandeville, England, was the first governing body for the sport.
Para badminton athletes compete in men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. The playing court is similar to that of regular badminton, except that the singles matches of wheelchair and standing classes play half-court. In doubles matches, both classes play over the whole court. The height of the net is the same for all classes.
Para badminton made its Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, featuring 90 athletes from 28 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs). It will make its second appearance at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with up to 120 athletes from 31 nations competing in 16 medal events.
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Frequently asked questions
Para badminton is a variant of badminton for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. It has been recognised as a Paralympic sport since its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Para badminton athletes compete in men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Athletes are classified into six "Sport Classes" to ensure fairness in competition. The six classes consist of four standing and two wheelchair classes. The matches follow a best-of-three format, where the first player or team to reach 21 points in two games wins.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the world governing body for para badminton. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) also plays a role in governing para badminton as a Paralympic sport.
