The Badminton World Federation (BWF) conducted a para-badminton wheelchair research last weekend in Paris where the French Badminton Federation (FFBaD) hosted 27 participants at the Olympic Centre INSEP from 4-6 March.

The participants consist of 13 wheelchair players, 6 coaches, 3 international classifiers, 3 researchers and 2 workshop leaders from Europe and Asia. The research team was led by Professor Dr. Hanno Felder who studied the classification structure that has been in use for several years. During the tests the players were plastered with sensors and they had to perform a number of procedures identified by the professor. After all of the equipment was removed, the balance of the players was tested. They ended the research with a short game. 

The results developed by the research team will be sent to the BWF for recommendation. ´The key outcome of the research is to get good quality data that will underpin the BWF’s Para-Badminton Classification Regulations. At present, there are points in the sport class spectrum where a definitive sports class cannot be given – for wheelchair, it would be when a player is borderline WH1 and WH2.This research will help reduce the size of the borderline and will help the classifiers with their role at events,´stated Syahmi Sabron, BWF Para-Badminton Officer.

On top of the ongoing research, a coaching workshop was organized for the existing players and coaches, which was delivered by Kaity Hall (Scotland) and Christian Thode (Norway). The coaches worked in pairs of two or three and shared their experiences and in this way there was plenty of discussions and exercises for the coaches and the players on the court. 

Part of the content of the coaching workshop was to deliveri warm-up exercises for wheelchair players, tactics- and technical training for singles and doubles, planning a coaching session, working at a tournament and how to guide their players to reach their peak for major tournaments.

When asked, Kaity Hall who was one of the presenters during the coaches´ workshop claimed, ´Amazing weekend here in Paris for the wheelchair research project and coaches´ workshop!! Credit to all the players and coaches who have worked very hard all weekend to make the workshop a success.´

1.England

2.France

3.Netherlands

4.Germany

5.Hong Kong

6.Scotland

7.Thailand

8.Turkey

1.Germany – Prof. Dr.Hanno Felder (Olympic Training Centre) - Leader

2.Malaysia – Dr. Shamsul Azhar (BWF Senior Classifier)

3.Thailand – Dr. Komwudh Konchalard (BWF Senior Classifier)

4.England – Becky Bailey (BWF Classifier)

To read more about para-badminton activities in Europe, click here.