On This Day: Badminton Becomes a Paralympic Sport

Qu Zimo and Mai Jianpeng at the World Championships in Basel.

On This Day: Badminton Becomes a Paralympic Sport

It was a decision long awaited by the Para badminton community and on 7 October 2014, their prayers were answered and their dreams became a reality.

History was made following a meeting in Berlin, Germany when the International Paralympic Committee’s Governing Board announced the sport as among the first 16 to make the Tokyo 2020 programme, thus confirming the debut of badminton at the Paralympic Games.

BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer, who led a delegation to present badminton’s case to the IPC Governing Board, was understandably elated.

“Today is a dream come true for so many talented competitors who have shone on the badminton courts and yearned to do so at the highest level of sport for Para athletes,” said Høyer.

“We have worked hard in their name and for their cause and we are humbled and honoured by this decision that will bring joy to so many of our players.”

IPC President Sir Philip Craven congratulated BWF for “submitting a very strong application after missing out four years ago”.

Though postponed by the COVID-19 global pandemic, Para shuttlers can expect to make their bow at the rescheduled Games in Tokyo next year and feature again at Paris 2024 following IPC’s decision in 2019 to retain the same programme for the next edition.

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On This Day: Badminton Becomes a Paralympic Sport

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