You’ve surely heard of badminton and probably served and volleyed a shuttlecock before, but have you heard of AirBadminton?
This sport was introduced in 2019 at the Tianhe Gymnasium in Guangzhou by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and HSBC. Badminton competitions are held indoors because the archenemy of badminton is wind. If you’ve ever tried playing badminton outdoors, you’d have noticed how even gentle breezes can interfere with the game. Motivated by this challenge, researchers and badminton enthusiasts sought to create a wind-resistant form of badminton that can be enjoyed outdoors.
The Institute for Sports Research (ISR) at Nanyang Technological University began developing prototypes of the AirShuttle, a wind-resistant shuttlecock, in 2014. These prototypes were engineered and improved based on trajectory, spin response, acoustics, durability and cost. The AirShuttle was also designed so that humidity and wind from different directions had little impact on it and the game.
A final design was chosen in 2018 and was tested by badminton players, from beginners to pros, around the world, before the game was officially launched in 2019. Injection-moulded from polypropylene and nylon, the AirShuttle closely mimics the trajectory, spin response and acoustics of the traditional shuttlecock. It is also brightly coloured, which improves its visibility.
You can enjoy AirBadminton in different environments, like parks, playgrounds and beaches, and all you need are rackets, a portable net and the groundbreaking AirShuttle. The same rules apply: You win a point when the AirShuttle lands on your opponent’s body or side of the court, or when your opponent swats the AirShuttle and it hits the net or lands out of the playing area.
If you’d like to try AirBadminton and win attractive prizes, sign up for the Sports Hub Sports Series: AirBadminton Marathon happening at the Singapore Sports Hub from 25 to 27 February 2022. You’ll get to play badminton on the grounds of our iconic National Stadium, which will be transformed specially for this round-the-clock event!
