Canada to host first Para-Badminton Championships

“Para-badminton has a significant grassroots movement with pockets of players and coaches playing at a high level across the country.”

Badminton Canada has announced that the host for the 1st Canadian National Para-Badminton Championship will be the City of Moncton, held 19-20 May 2016 at the University of Moncton CEPS gymnasium. It will run in conjunction with the 2016 Yonex Junior/U23 National Championship.

"Badminton New Brunswick will have the honour of hosting the first ever in Canadian history Para-badminton National Championships,” Daryl Beer, President of the Organising Committee, said. “We will work hard to make our para-badminton athletes proud to have us selected to host their first National Badminton Championships. We look forward bringing everyone to the greatest sport hub city of the Maritimes - Moncton New Brunswick in May 2016."

Para-badminton was added to the Paralympic Games programme for the 2020 Tokyo Games in the autumn of 2014 by the International Paralympic Committee. Over the past year, Badminton Canada has been developing this important aspect of the sport. This includes the development of officials, classifiers and coaches.

“Para-badminton has a significant grassroots movement with pockets of players and coaches playing at a high level across the country,” said Joe Morissette, executive director of Badminton Canada. “We feel the time is right for us to start organising national level competitions and preparing our athletes to start to compete internationally.”

Para-badminton has six classifications – three standing, two chair and short stature. Players who have not been previously classified will be required to attend a classification session on 18 May in Moncton.

For more information on para-badminton and the classifications please go to BWF's webite. For more information about Badminton Canada’s para-badminton programme as well as the Championship, please contact Ann Moran at ann@badminton.ca.