A new adaptation of the badminton called Air Badminton – aims to make the game even more enjoyable and playable in the outdoor environment on hard, grass and sand surfaces around the world. This may in fact be a new landmark in badminton’s future.
According to the 2018 Global Study conducted by Nielsen Sports, the game of Badminton has an estimated fan base of 735 million fans globally – an increase of nearly 40 percent since 2015. In fact, badminton ranks third behind football and basketball – ahead of tennis, motorsport and golf in some 21 key countries of the world.
Badminton is a popular and fun game globally. All over the world close to 339 million enthusiasts play badminton at least once a week. China has the greatest number of people who regularly play badminton followed by India, Malaysia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Indonesia. Russia and Spain in particular account for the highest number of badminton lovers in Western Europe.
Just one hour of badminton can burn more than 450 calories. New research has shown that badminton can extend longevity by as much as nine years.
Air Badminton is 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. The project has been going on for the past five years to develop a new outdoor shuttlecock with increased durability, stability and wind resistance to allow people to play badminton outdoors.
BWF is currently working with leading sports manufacturers to mass produce and roll out the AirShuttle which can be played in winds up to 12km per hour.
Air Badminton has the potential for increased global participation in the sport — opening up doors for a new, highly attractive form of competitive badminton and a game that can also be enjoyed by people with disabilities.