Para-Badminton Worlds to be held in Paralympic birthplace

Asian Para Games bronze medallists Lin Cheng-Che / Huang Hsing-Chih of Chinese Taipei © Don Hearn for Badzine

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced today that the 2015 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships will be held in Stoke Mandeville, England “the town that sparked the global para-sport movement”.

With the tournament to be staged in a purpose-built facility that is the National Centre for Disability Sport in the UK, BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer called it the “perfect choice of location”, especially given that this will be the first Para-Badminton Worlds since the sport was approved to debut in the 2020 Paralympic Games.

A BWF press release explains that the Paralympic Games grew out of an event knows as the Stoke Mandeville Games, which the Stoke Mandeville Hospital included in a rehabilitation programme for injured World War II veterans.

“It is appropriate these Championships are being held in Stoke Mandeville which is world-renowned for its contribution and connection to para-sport. The BWF is very pleased to be partnering with Badminton England which has a long history of delivering world-class events,”  Høyer is quoted in the press release as saying.

“As we look towards Tokyo 2020, we are building the global participation and quality of athletes in the sport and the World Championships every two years is a great opportunity to see the rising talent coming through. The World Championships in Dortmund, Germany in 2013 were inspirational and I am sure these championships will be a great showcase of this emerging talent.”

Badminton England  Chief Executive Adrian Christy added: “We are thrilled to be hosting the prestigious BWF Para-Badminton World Championships in England later this year, and in the birthplace of para-sports competitions.  It’s particularly timely after the landmark decision last October to confirm para-badminton as a Paralympic  sport at Tokyo 2020 and we cannot wait to welcome all the best players in the world to England.

“The Championships will also shine a light on the fantastic work being undertaken by Badminton England and our great team of volunteers to create more and more opportunities for people with a disability to try badminton, and for some, to begin to dream of becoming a Paralympian. Hosting a major event such as the BWF Para-Badminton World Championships will provide an incredible inspiration to so many.”

The tenth edition of the BWF Para-Badminton World Championships will cap off one of Para-Badminton’s busiest seasons yet, with international events scheduled for Spain, China, Ireland, and Indonesia.

Click here to read the complete press release from the BWF website