Badminton Australia

Australian para badminton

Badminton Australia is pleased to be able to support the development of Para badminton players and the game of Para badminton across Australia

Para badminton

Badminton is a sport for all, meaning that it is accessible to men and women of all ages and for people with a wide range of impairments.

Para badminton has been part of the Special Olympics World Summer Games since 1995 is now recognised as a Paralympic sport and was inaugurated for the first time at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recognises the Badminton World Federation (BWF) as the world governing body for Para badminton.

Badminton Australia works with our state associations to promote and develop Para badminton, and partners with Disability organisations where possible.

In 2018, Australia was the first country in the Oceania regio to stage a BWF sanctioned Para badminton tournament; this was followed by the Oceania Para badminton Championships which are held every second year.

Para badminton athletes compete in men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles, where they are classified into one of six different sport classes to ensure fairness in competition.

WHAT IS PARALYMPIC SPORT?

In Para badminton, athletes are classified into “Sport Classes” to ensure fairness in competition. In Para badminton there are six Sport Classes. Every athlete is classified into one of the six Sport Classes before they can compete at an international level. This ensures that athletes compete in groups which consider how their physical impairment affects their performance as a badminton player.

PARA BADMINTON CLASSIFICATION

In Para badminton, the classification process involves a medical examination and some badminton activities to show the classifiers what badminton movements and shots are easy or more difficult for the athlete. The Minimal Impairment Criteria for each of the Sport Classes is described in the BWF Classification Regulations. There are also opportunities to get involved in badminton’s classification program.