GBA launches new outdoor game Air Badminton

The Guyana Badminton Association on Tuesday (December 29, 2020) officially launched the new outdoor game, Air Badminton, in Guyana.

Air Badminton is an ambitious new development project in partnership with HSBC, Badminton World Federation’s Global Development Partner, designed to create opportunities for people of all ages and ability to play badminton on hard, grass and sand surfaces in parks, gardens, streets, playgrounds and beaches around the world.

“We are very happy to have gotten this project off especially during this pandemic situation which caused our sport to be on hold since April 2020. This new outdoor game was implemented by the World Badminton Federation and it’s a great way to keep the players active and motivated until we can restart our normal training,” the Guyana Badminton Association said in a statement.

“We congratulate the players who participated, and their commitment shows just how much they missed playing and all eager to come out to hit the specially designed Shuttlecock which can withstand the wind to a point.”

The activity was made possible through support from Colonel Nazrul Hussain of the National COVID-19 Task Force, Marvis Hoppie of the National Parks Commission, Carlton Joao of Banks DIH Limited and executives of the Badminton Association.

What is Air Badminton?

Air Badminton is an ambitious new development project in partnership with HSBC, BWF’s Global Development Partner, designed to create opportunities for people of all ages and ability to play badminton on hard, grass and sand surfaces in parks, gardens, streets, playgrounds and beaches around the world.

The project has been five years in the making, starting with a vision to develop a new outdoor shuttlecock with increased durability, stability and wind resistance to allow people to have a more positive experience of badminton outdoors.

BWF President and Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games men’s singles gold medalist Poul-Erik Høyer officiated the launch and said Air Badminton provides a pathway for increased global participation in the sport, while opening up doors for a new, highly attractive form of competitive badminton.

“This is a momentous occasion for badminton. Strategically, Air Badminton will allow to fulfil our overall objective of putting a badminton racket in the hands of as many people as possible,” he said.

“Given that most people’s first experience with badminton comes in an outdoor environment, we are now making it easier for everyone to access the sport through a new outdoor game and new shuttlecock, the Air Shuttle.

“In the future, we see Air Badminton as an exciting, new, energetic version of the sport. Overall, the aim is to inspire more people to play more badminton in more places.”