In October 2014, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that badminton would be included in the programme of sports for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, to be hosted 24 August until 5 September 2021.

Badminton players with a physical impairment now have a complete athlete pathway to this most prestigious event in para-sport. Badminton joins a field of 22 sports for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

BWF has worked hard since 2010 to develop Para badminton and it is now offered as a programme in more than 45 countries globally. Visit our Para badminton section of the website for more information.

Road to Tokyo 2020

After the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the IPC will evaluate the sports programme and in early 2017, the IPC is expected to announce the number of athletes per sport for the Tokyo 2020 programme.

Para badminton has the possibility of 30 medal events – six Sport Classes and five disciplines (men’s / women’s singles, men’s/women’s doubles and mixed doubles) however not all medal events are offered in international competitions. In Tokyo, there will be a limited number of medal events for Para badminton.

Because the number of beds are limited for each sport, the BWF will need to make choices depending on the number of athlete places the IPC allocates to badminton for these first Games.

BWF has already determined some for the key principles by which it will decide which Sport Classes and medal events it will showcase in Tokyo in 2020. These principles include:

– Essence of badminton – showcasing our sport – singles / doubles / mixed doubles play

– Showcasing excellence – this is about world class performances

– High entertainment value – what events / Sport Classes are most entertaining  – the most value for spectators and broadcast

– Equality – presenting a programme which has equal numbers of men and women