AirBadminton – The New Outdoor Game

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) and HSBC jointly launched a new outdoor game, AirBadminton, and a new outdoor shuttlecock, the AirShuttle, at a global launch ceremony in May 2019. AirBadminton 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.

Badminton as we know it is a popular, fun and inclusive sport with more than 300 million active players globally, encouraging participation and excitement with a plethora of health and social benefits. Given that most people first experience badminton in an outdoor environment, BWF and HSBC made it easier for everyone to access the sport through a new outdoor game and new shuttlecock – the AirShuttle.

To promote AirBadminton in the region, BWF has chosen Dubai and has joined hands with UAE Badminton and Dubai Sports Council to introduce the exciting, new, energetic version of the sport to the most vibrant city in the region.

This flagship event, Dubai AirBadminton 2019 will be conducted alongside the Dubai International Challenge 2019 happening at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai from the 16^th to the 20^th of October 2019.

The Dubai AirBadminton 2019 event will have two practice days (16^th and 17^th October) followed by competitions on the 18^th and 19^th October, at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai. Participants will get chance to try both the Hard and Sand surface versions of the AirBadminton court during the practice days, whereas the competition will use Sand Surface courts only.

The Dubai AirBadminton 2019 – the first such Competition in the region

AirBadminton is a concept that brings to life a vision of a fun, new inclusive outdoor game for everyone. It tells the real story of our game and what it represents – something fresh and different; with new rules, new courts and a new shuttlecock. The aim of AirBadminton is to inspire more people to play more badminton in more places.

Join us in the AirBadminton evolution and pick up a racket today.

1. Venue and timing. 

The competition will be staged on the 18^th and 19^th, at the three Sand Surface courts set up at the NAS Sports Complex in Dubai.

2. Events Included. 

The AirBadminton events are Singles (with one player per side), Doubles (with two players per side) and Triples (with three players per side).

As recognized by BWF, the following events are included in the Dubai AirBadminton 2019 Competition.

3. Competition Format/ Scoring

• Format of Play – Knockout Draw
• Scoring system – 5x11 (13)

4. Shuttles to be used

The new AirShuttle made of polypropylene material is similar in terms of flight characteristics with the feather shuttles, but with more durability and resistance to wind and humidity.

We will provide AirShuttles for use throughout the competition.

5. Rackets

Traditional stringed racket shall be used to play AirBadminton.

6. Footwear

You may barefoot or use any footwear of your choice, that will help you to move well around the sand court.

7. Significant differences in court layout and play.

There are three formats to which you can play: Singles – 1 vs. 1, Doubles – 2 vs. 2 & Triple – 3 vs. 3

The dimensions of the court have been defined to encourage longer rallies and maintain the physical aspects of our sport. Rallies commence with a service from anywhere behind the 3m marker. The AirShuttle must be struck in an upwards direction with both feet stationary behind the 3m marker. The server may direct the AirShuttle anywhere into the opposition’s playing area beyond the 2m line.

Singles and doubles follow the same style of play as badminton, taking into consideration the court dimensions and service regulations. In triples, the same service regulations apply, but any one player cannot return the AirShuttle on two consecutive occasions.

7a. Dead Zone

AirBadminton is played with similar rules to badminton with the main difference being the design of the court, with a two-meter dead zone at the front of the court. Should the AirShuttle land in that area, it is deemed a fault. Players are also not permitted to step inside the dead zone to hit the AirShuttle, except after the hit during which, they can step or land inside the dead zone.

7b. No midcourt marker

Unlike traditional Badminton, there is no midcourt marker to separate a server and his/her partner. Incidentally, in Singles, the player can serve from anywhere within the designated service zone, and the receiver can receive from anywhere within the playing area. In Doubles, a player of the serving side can serve from anywhere within the designated service zone, and both players of the receiving side can return the service; from anywhere within the playing area.

7c. Service rules in AirBadminton

There is a 3m service marker clearly visible on the sideline. The player shall serve from anywhere behind this marker within the court, with both feet stationary. The whole AirShuttle should be below net height at the point of impact. Subsequently, the flight of the AirShuttle is upwards from the server’s racket.

8. Triples Competition in AirBadminton

Players are not allowed to hit two consecutive returns. The player must allow another member of the team to take the next return. This rule creates more movement and increases the strategic element of the game.

8a.Serving and receiving positions

A player of the serving side shall serve from anywhere within the designated service zone, and all players of the receiving side can return the service from anywhere within the playing area. After the service is returned, in a rally, the AirShuttle may be hit by any player of the serving side and either player of the receiving side alternately, from any position on those players’ side of the net, until the AirShuttle ceases to be in play. Players from both sides must not hit two consecutive returns.

8b. Sequence of Serving

The right to serve shall pass consecutively from the initial server who started the game; to any player of the receiving side; to one of the partners of the initial server; to any of the other two players of the receiving side and so on

For further details on AirBadminton, you can visit BWF Website, or write to us via [email protected]

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