How do challenges work in badminton?
I · Intermediate · Conduct, stoppages and officials · 10 of 10At events with an instant review system, a player can challenge a line call, and the system's decision replaces the line judge's. The challenge must be made immediately. Each side has a limited number of challenges in a game. The Laws themselves say only that the system decides; the numbers are in separate BWF regulations.
How it works
- Only line calls can be challenged.
- The player must challenge at once.
- The review system decides, unless it gives an inconsistent or plainly wrong result, in which case the referee tells the umpire how to proceed.
- If the line judge was unsighted and neither the umpire nor the system can decide, it is a let.
- Challenges are counted for each game: the umpire's standard phrases include "You do not have any challenges remaining in this game."
Tricky cases
How many challenges does a player get?
The Laws do not give a number. The umpire's standard phrases show the count is per game. The number is in BWF's instant review regulations, which are not among our sources.
Can a player challenge a service fault or a net touch?
No. The system decides line calls only.
Why the rule exists
A shuttle lands too fast for the eye to be sure at the line. Review corrects errors without arguments.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Events with an instant review system | As above | L17.5.2; BWF Vocabulary 3.4 |
| Other matches | No challenges; the umpire may overrule a line judge | L17.5.1 |
From the rule book
BWF Laws of Badminton, Laws 14.2.6 and 17.5, version 5.0, in force from 26 April 2025; BWF Vocabulary, section 3.4, version 7.0. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: BWF Laws of Badminton (PDF).