AirBadminton Takes Flight

(ATR) A new outdoor version of badminton is launched in China on Monday.

Guardar

(ATR) The future is now for outdoor badminton.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) and its global development partner HSBC jointly launched AirBadminton, along with a new outdoor shuttlecock, the AirShuttle, at a ceremony in Guangzhou, China on Monday.

The BWF says AirBadminton is the result of a five-year project designed to create opportunities for people of all ages and ability to play badminton on hard, grass and sand surfaces in parks, gardens, streets, playgrounds and beaches around the world.

Badminton is already played by more than 300 million active players globally but the federation wants that number to grow.

"This is a momentous occasion for badminton. Strategically, AirBadminton will allow us to fulfill our overall objective of putting a badminton racket in the hands of as many people as possible," said BWF President and Atlanta 1996 men’s singles gold medalist Poul-Erik Høyer, who officiated the launch.

"Given that most people’s first experience with badminton comes in an outdoor environment, we are now making it easier for everyone to access the sport through a new outdoor game and new shuttlecock, the AirShuttle.

Joining Høyer at the launch was Global Head of Brand Partnerships, HSBC, Jonathan Castleman; Atlanta 1996 men’s singles silver medalist, and now Chinese national Para badminton head coach, Dong Jiong; Athens 2004 Olympic Games gold medalist, Yang Wei; 2009 women’s singles world champion, Lu Lan; and 2010 men’s singles world champion, Chen Jin.

Dong Jiong, who joined his Atlanta 1996 opponent Høyer in unveiling the AirShuttle, said: "This is very exciting for the sport. I think this has tremendous potential here in China and around the world.

"It’s also great that it is an inclusive game that can be enjoyed by people with disabilities."

While the new AirShuttle will allow for a better experience outdoors, the new version of the game will still need to be played in relatively calm conditions. The eventual aim is for the shuttlecock to be played in winds up to 12km (7.5 miles) per hour. The BWF is currently working with leading sports manufacturers to mass produce and rollout the AirShuttle.

AirBadminton is played with similar rules to badminton with the main difference being new court dimensions. The outdoor version includes a two meter dead zone at the front of each side of the court. Should the AirShuttle land in that area, it is deemed a fault.

Written by Gerard Farek

For general comments or questions,click here.

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.

Guardar

Últimas Noticias

Utah’s Olympic venues an integral part of the equation as Salt Lake City seeks a Winter Games encore

Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation chief of sport development Luke Bodensteiner says there is a “real urgency to make this happen in 2030”. He discusses the mission of the non-profit organization, the legacy from the 2002 Winter Games and future ambitions.
Utah’s Olympic venues an integral part of the equation as Salt Lake City seeks a Winter Games encore

IOC president tells Olympic Movement “we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games” in Beijing

Thomas Bach, in an open letter on Friday, also thanked stakeholders for their “unprecedented” efforts to make Tokyo 2020 a success despite the pandemic.
IOC president tells Olympic Movement “we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games” in Beijing

Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts

The IOC says issues concerning governance, finance, and refereeing and judging must be sorted out to its satisfaction. AIBA says it’s confident that will happen and the federation will be reinstated.
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts

IOC president details Olympic community efforts to get Afghans out of danger after Taliban return to power

Thomas Bach says the Afghanistan NOC remains under IOC recognition, noting that the current leadership was democratically elected in 2019. But he says the IOC will be monitoring what happens in the future. The story had been revealed on August 31 in an article by Miguel Hernandez in Around the Rings
IOC president details Olympic community efforts to get Afghans out of danger after Taliban return to power

North Korea suspended by IOC for failing to participate in Tokyo though its athletes could still take part in Beijing 2022

Playbooks for Beijing 2022 will ”most likely” be released in October, according to IOC President Thomas Bach.
North Korea suspended by IOC for failing to participate in Tokyo though its athletes could still take part in Beijing 2022