Badminton is one of the fastest sports, which is becoming popular day by day.
But here’s another version of this sport, which is for disabled players and athletes and is known as para-badminton.
It has been a part of the Olympic games since 2020 and was firstly inaugurated at Tokyo Olympics.
Usually, it is similar to the abled version of this sport but different in some aspects.
So let’s find them out and know more about them:
What is Para-Badminton?
It is a variant of the abled version of this sport for athletes facing various physical disabilities.
And is one of the growing sports attracting more and more disabled participants every year, socially and competitively.
Also, it is now recognized as a para-Olympic sport.
It was inaugurated for the first time at Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
BWF is a member of the International Para-Olympic Committee, but in 2011, IPC recognized BWF as the governing body of para-badminton.
Now the main task of BWF is to promote and develop this paralympic sport globally.
BWF promotes a “one sport – one team” philosophy – and para-badminton together.
Classifications
In para-badminton, athletes are classified into six Sports classes to ensure fairness in competition and which are determined by BWF:
Wheelchair 1 (WH 1)
Players indulged in this class either have lower limbs or trunk function impairment.
Also, such players require a wheelchair while playing.
Wheelchair 2 (WH 2 )
In such a class, the players could have impairment in a single or both legs and minimal or no trunk impairment.
And players might require a wheelchair to play.
Standing Lower (SL 3)
Players having impairment in one or both lower limbs and poor walking/ running balance are classified in this class.
And here, the players must play while standing.
Standing Lower (SL 4)
Players have impaired one or both lower limbs and minimal impairment in walking/ running balance (better walking and running balance than SL3).
Standing Upper (SU 5)
A player in this class has implemented the upper limbs.
Short Stature (SH 6)
Here in this class, players have a short stature, which is caused due to genetic conditions or achondroplasia (a form of short-limbed dwarfism).
Eligible impairment types
- Short stature.
- Leg length difference.
- Ataxia.
- Limb deficiency.
- Hypertonia.
- Impaired passive range of movement.
- Athetosis.
- Impaired muscle power.
History of Para-Badminton
This sport has been competed at the international level since last 1990s.
The first World Championships took place at Amersfoort, the Netherlands, in 1998, and now this championship occurs every two years.
And in 2020, it made a debut in Olympics.
At the start, this game was governed by Para-Badminton World Federation (PBWF).
And in June 2011, it became a part of BWF after a meeting in Dortmund.
Rules of Para-Badminton
- A match consists of the best of 3 games of 21 points.
- A point is scored every time there is a serve.
- The side-wining rally adds a point to its score and serves the next rally.
- At 20 all, the side which gains a 2-point lead first wins the game.
- At 29, the side scoring the 30th point wins the game.
- The side winning a game serves first in the next game.
Things you need to know about Para-Badminton
- After taekwondo, para-badminton is the other sport to debut in Para-Olympics at Tokyo 2020.
- Here athletes are placed in six sports (two wheelchairs and four standing) classes, as mentioned above.
- Most of the rules and regulations are similar to the abled version of this sport, where a game holds three sets of 21 points each.
- WH 1, WH 2, and SL 3 categorized players use the halfcourt in singles, whereas the full court is used by the players in doubles, apart from the section close to the net.
- Some modifications are done for the wheelchair players like a low backrest is used to avoid interference with the other players and to prevent the wheelchair from overturning while reaching back to the shuttle. The extra-caster wheels are added to it.
- The first world championships were held in the Netherlands in 1998, and since then, these championships have been held after every two years.
- The net’s height is similar to the abled version of this sport.
- Also, the shuttlecock and the shots played are similar to the abled version of this sport.
Final Words
Para-badminton is for disabled athletes who want to still play with their disabilities by keeping them aside.
And for such dedicated athletes, BWF and International Para-Olympic Committee provide them with many opportunities at the national and international levels.
The rules and regulations for this sport are kindly similar to the abled version of this sport.
Also, above, I have mentioned the history of para-badminton.
And in case you faced any problems or are there any questions going on in your mind regarding this post, then feel free to ask us or pin them up in the comment section below.