The world’s best para-badminton players are currently competing at the 2026 World Championships in Bahrain. Among them are many of Europe’s top athletes, ready to battle for medals on the global stage.
A total of 22 medal events are being contested across six different classifications. In each category, competition begins with a group stage, featuring either three or four singles/pairs. The top two from each group then advance to the knockout stage, where between 4 and 16 players/pairs duel it out to reach the podium.
Sadly, Daniel Bethel, the defending silver medallist from the last World Championships and silver medallist at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, has been forced to withdraw due to injury just before the start of the tournament and will not be competing this year.
However, several other European stars are in Bahrain, including:
- Helle Sofie Sagøy
- Ilaria Olgiati
- Charles Noakes
- Lucas Mazur
- Meril Loquette
- Yuri Ferrigno
- Francisco Motero
- Anya Butterworth
- Oliwia Szmigiel
- Man-Kei To
- Cynthia Mathez
…and many more.
The championship kicked off yesterday and will run through 14 February.
Best of luck to all the athletes.
