'It's a lady's sport': The challenge of badminton in Uganda, Canada, Bulgaria
The 2026 BWF World Championships highlight badminton’s global reach, with top representation from Asian powerhouses and Denmark. While nations like Bulgaria, Uganda, and South Africa have fewer athletes and limited resources, their stories underscore dedication and growth.
The 2026 BWF World Championships, which commenced on Monday, has garnered significant participation from China, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, and India, with Denmark leading the pack. Just a few countries, such as Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Brazil, Mexico, and Uganda, have limited representation.
Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi, a 21-year-old Ugandan, hails from Tamil Nadu and had to relocate to Mauritius to find training partners. She gained exposure to badminton at the age of 9-10 by her father and secured a scholarship/training stint in Dubai. Rafi's persistence paid off as she won two medals at the All Africa Senior Badminton Championships, qualifying for the ongoing World Championships.
Kaloyana Nalbantova, a Bulgarian, was part of her country's successful Women's Team Championships earlier this year. In New Delhi, she faced off against the reigning World No. 1 and three-time World medallist, An Se-young, and came up short. Despite the setback, Nalbantova remains determined, emphasizing the resilience of Bulgarian athletes who are often underestimated due to their small stature.
The lack of financial support from sponsors poses a significant challenge for Bulgarian athletes, who must rely on European league matches, personal earnings, and federation assistance to fund their badminton careers. South African women's doubles team Amy Ackerman and Johanita Scholtz have also faced hurdles in gaining international recognition.
Ackerman, a 21-year-old from Johannesburg, began playing badminton by tossing the shuttle with her father in the garden and later pursued professional coaching. Scholtz, 26, discovered the sport when accompanying her mother for squash lessons. Both athletes are now training together for the World Championships, despite facing obstacles like rising petrol prices and geopolitical conflicts.
They remain optimistic about growing the sport and attracting sponsorships, emphasizing the importance of overcoming established sports like rugby, swimming, athletics, and cricket.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
