Para badminton
Para badminton is badminton for players with a physical impairment, played under the same Laws of Badminton with extra clauses for para play. There are six classes: WH1 and WH2 play in wheelchairs, SL3 and SL4 stand with a lower limb impairment, SU5 stand with an upper limb impairment and SH6 is for short stature. Wheelchair and SL3 singles use reduced courts.
New to para badminton? Start here
How long
Best of three games to 21 points, as in badminton
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Paralympic Games (para badminton)The top title in para badminton; India has won gold here.Every 4 years
- 2BWF Para Badminton World ChampionshipsThe sport's own world title.Every 2 years (to check) · Holder: China the top nation
- 3Asian Para Games (para badminton)Asia's para multi-sport title, held after the Asian Games in the same city.Every 4 years · Holder: 22 sports, 501 events
India
India has 3 golds, 3 silvers and 3 bronzes at the Paralympic Games and 107 World Championships medals from 2007 to 2026 (24 gold), Pramod Bhagat holding the most world titles, six in men's singles SL3 [the two pages].
- Para badminton at the Paralympic Games: 3 golds, 3 silvers, 3 bronzes
- BWF Para-Badminton World Championships: 107 medals from 2007 to 2026 (24 gold, 21 silver, 62 bronze), counting a medal shared with a partner from another nation; most world titles, Pramod Bhagat, 6 in men's singles SL3 (2009, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2026)
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- IndiaPara badminton at the Paralympic Games: 3 golds, 3 silvers, 3 bronzes (latest 2024); BWF Para-Badminton World Championships: 24 golds, 21 silvers, 62 bronzes (latest 2026)
- ChinaPara badminton at the Paralympic Games: 14 golds, 5 silvers, 3 bronzes (latest 2024); BWF Para-Badminton World Championships: 38 golds, 23 silvers, 22 bronzes (latest 2026)
- South KoreaPara badminton at the Paralympic Games: 5 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2024); BWF Para-Badminton World Championships: 39 golds, 41 silvers, 43 bronzes (latest 2026)
- JapanPara badminton at the Paralympic Games: 5 golds, 2 silvers, 6 bronzes (latest 2024); BWF Para-Badminton World Championships: 21 golds, 21 silvers, 61 bronzes (latest 2026)
- MalaysiaPara badminton at the Paralympic Games: 2 golds (latest 2024); BWF Para-Badminton World Championships: 26 golds, 10 silvers, 20 bronzes (latest 2026)
- IndonesiaPara badminton at the Paralympic Games: 3 golds, 6 silvers, 5 bronzes (latest 2024); BWF Para-Badminton World Championships: 19 golds, 13 silvers, 14 bronzes (latest 2026)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | Badminton World Federation (BWF), Laws of Badminton, version 6.0, with the para clauses |
| International federation | Badminton World Federation (BWF) |
| In India | Badminton Association of India (BAI), which has a para badminton chairman and runs the National Para Badminton Championships |
Where and when it is played
On a badminton court, reduced for some classes. The big events: the Paralympic Games every four years and the BWF Para Badminton World Championships.