Badminton has been listed among the first 16 sports for inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games sports programme. The International Paralympic Committee’s Governing Board made the announcement after a meeting in Berlin, Germany.
The other 15 sports are athletics, archery, boccia, equestrian, goalball, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis. 8 other sports, including cycling, whose federation applied too late to be considered at the Berlin meeting, and football, will be reviewed early next year for inclusion.
BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer said, “On behalf of the Badminton World Federation, I would like to thank the IPC Governing Board for this landmark opportunity which they have given to athletes with impairments in the badminton community. Today is a dream come true for so many talented competitors who have shone on the badminton courts and who have yearned to do so at the highest level of sport for para-athletes.”
Meanwhile, Asia’s top para-badminton athletes are gearing up for the 2014 Incheon Asia Para Games. Para-badminton has been a medal event in Asia since the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled in 1998.
The 2014 Asian Para Games, also known as the Second Asian Para Games, will kick off on October 18, 2014 and will end on October 24, 2014.
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