Badminton hopes to have a place at the Paralympics in 2020, after the Badminton World Federation, the sport’s governing body, claimed the sport would be a positive addition’ to the Games programme.
The sport made an unsuccessful attempt to gain inclusion in the Paralympic programme for Rio 2016, with canoe and triathlon to make their debuts in Brazil instead.
Badminton could go up against the likes of powerchair football, golf and taekwondo for a place at the 2020 Games.
The BWF said in a statement: ‘It’s clear that Badminton must be a part of future Paralympic celebrations of sport.’
‘Para-Badminton would be a positive addition to the sports programme for the 2020 edition of the Paralympic Games.’
‘In its 2009/2010 bid for inclusion in Rio 2016, the BWF learned that it needed to do more for Para-Badminton and to position the sport well for inclusion.’
The BWF have integrated the sport into their governance and management structure, have been recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and have also reviewed the game’s rules and regulations regarding classification.
Increasing funding for the disability sport have also been approved.
A final decision will be made during the second half of 2014, although detailed timings have not been confirmed yet.
