New Delhi, Oct 30 (PTI) — The inaugural BWF AirBadminton World Cup is poised to take place in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, from December 11–14, with 12 national teams set to compete for the top spot. Participants include Australia, Germany, Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, Brazil, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Nigeria, China, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Venezuela, each earning their positions following a rigorous qualification process.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced that a maximum of 96 athletes will participate across three categories: men's triples, women's triples, and the team relay. Leading the charge for Team Relay favourites Hong Kong China is former men's singles top 10 player Wong Wing Ki Vincent.
The tournament falls under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of the UAE Badminton Federation. "AirBadminton, the new outdoor variant of the sport, is rapidly emerging as a growth discipline with tremendous potential to expand badminton's global reach," BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul remarked.
This year, BWF launched its first world circuit, encouraging more Member Associations, teams, and athletes, especially those beyond the traditional badminton powerhouses, to engage in BWF-sanctioned competitions, thus enhancing the elite competitive landscape and fostering greater inclusivity.
The vision for flagship AirBadminton events, like the World Cup in Sharjah, integrates high-level competition with a vibrant festival atmosphere and evening entertainment to attract new audiences and broaden the global badminton community.
The triples format will feature matches played in a best-of-five games format, with each game won by the first team to reach 9 points. In case the score hits 8-all, a team must have a two-point lead to clinch the game. If it reaches 12-all, the following point decides the winner. Teams are allowed up to three substitutions per match.
The team relay format comprises four matches: women’s doubles, men’s doubles, women’s triples, and men’s triples. Each match is played up to 15 points, with scores accumulating in a relay manner. The first team to reach 60 points wins the tie, and players can participate in one or two matches per tie.
AirBadminton is tailored for outdoor play on varied surfaces like sand, grass, and hard courts.
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