[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Last month, in conjunction with the BAHRAIN BWF Para Badminton World Championships 2026 in Manama, Bahrain, a special development initiative was conducted to support the integration of active and retired Para badminton players into broader roles within the sport.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”14857″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
From 6-9 February, three participants \u2013 Chilean Nicolas Gutierrez (SU5), Croatian Vanda\u00a0Alfirevic (SL3\u00a0and Austrian Cedric\u00a0Kapfenberger\u00a0(WH1) \u2013 gained first-hand insight into how international events are structured and delivered. The trio were selected from a pool of 10 applicants representing six countries.<\/p>\n
Through the programme, they observed the coordination between different functional areas and the precision required at every stage to successfully stage an event of the World Championships\u2019 scale.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never imagined I would be involved in Para badminton from so many perspectives \u2013 not only as an athlete but also as a sports manager observing the internal and external dynamics of an international event. It expanded my understanding of the sport and allowed me to see how governance, technical operations, classification, officiating and logistics come together at the highest level. Experiencing that environment motivated me even more to continue developing as an athlete and to contribute to the sport\u2019s growth in Chile.\u201d \u2013 Gutierrez[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”14829″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”14879,14831,14832,14833,14834″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
Sixteen applications from nine countries were received for this workshop. From 8-10 February, five selected participants were introduced to what a potential career in badminton officiating could look like.<\/p>\n
Over the three-day programme, participants served as line judges for selected matches while also learning about the BWF Technical Officials pathway. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants emphasised the importance of such initiatives in providing players with alternative career pathways and long-term opportunities within the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve loved my time here and benefitted so much from this experience. I\u2019ve gained confidence and I can now share my knowledge with people back home. It\u2019s good for players to have this as a career option. I\u2019m thankful to BWF for this opportunity.\u201d – Stellah Jongwe (WH1), Zimbabwe<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is hopefully the beginning of something new for me. I really enjoyed my experience officiating and I want to continue doing this for a long time. I don’t have a reason to stop now.\u201d- Ahmed Karam Ibrahim\u00a0Elhedek (SU5), Egypt<\/p>\n
These initiatives highlight BWF\u2019s continued commitment to empowering Para badminton athletes with opportunities beyond competition \u2013 fostering leadership, officiating pathways and deeper engagement with the sport\u2019s global ecosystem.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”14853″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”14835,14836,14837,14840,14841,14842,14843,14844,14845,14846,14847,14848,14849,14850,14851,14855″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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