A record number of adults participated in badminton last year, according to new data released by Sport England.
Figures from the latest Active Lives report indicates that 810,000 people played badminton regularly (twice in the last 28 days) between November 2023 and November 2024 – a 6% increase from the figure of 762,900 recorded from the previous year and the highest recorded since between November 2017 and November 18.
Badminton England is on a mission to encourage more people to return to court and initiatives like No Strings Badminton (NSB) and its new junior participation programme, Shuttle Stars, have been designed to create low-cost, fun and friendly environments where everyone can practice and play at their own pace.
The governing body’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy and Commonwealth Games Legacy project has continued to be a success, with participation levels among both sexes increasing compared to last year.
The figures show a 12% year on year increase for female participation, rising from 284,200 to 317,700 and a 3% year on year increase for male participation, ascending from 474,100 to 486,700.
The data backs the wider findings from Sport England that sport activity numbers are continuing their recovery to pre-Covid participation levels.
In September 2023, Badminton England launched Badminton – A Sport for Everyone, a 10-year strategy for badminton in England.
Now in its second year of operation, the strategy has already borne fruit and Badminton England remains committed to ensuring the sport remains open, accessible and inclusive to all.
The full Active Lives report can be found here.
Image credit: Yves Lacroix/BadmintonPhoto
