Badminton Asia, PBAD join forces, launch AirBadminton in PH

True to their mission of empowering the people through sports, Badminton Asia and the Philippine Badminton Association (PBAD) joined forces and officially launched AirBadminton at The Village Sports Club in Parañaque City Tuesday, Oct. 21.

With AirBadminton continuing to grow, the sport’s continental body and BPAD agreed to bring the new variation of badminton that could be played anytime, anywhere, but, most importantly, even outdoors.

Gracing the event were BPAD secretary-general Shawntel Nicole Nieto, Head of Developments Melvin Nubla, and Badminton Asia senior development manager Thana Arikrishnan alongside several local coaches and players.

“Compared to traditional badminton, AirBadminton is more accessible to everyone, it can be played outdoors, on grass, hard courts, or even on sand,” said Arikrishnan, who was a former national team player from Malaysia.

“It’s a faster, more dynamic version of the sport, designed for everyone to enjoy,” he added. “And I know it has great potential to grow here in the Philippines.”

For Nieto, he stressed that with the support from government and private sectors, Filipino smashers hold the traits needed to reach greater heights in both badminton and AirBadminton.

“Definitely, I think the Filipinos can be a powerhouse in both the traditional form of the sport and AirBadminton,” said Shawntel, whose brothers are former Ateneo Blue Eagles Matt, Mike and Lebron.

“The Filipino have the agility, strategic mindset, and unwavering spirit needed to excel in the sport….I don’t have a doubt that Filipinos can excel and reach the Olympic level,” added the one-time UAAP champion in women’s badminton.

To adapt to the environment, AirBadminton utilizes an innovative design called AirShuttle, which is wind-resistant yet remains compatible with standard badminton rackets.

The court, sized 16 by 6 meters, is more compact than the standard layout and does away with tramlines, while a 2-meter “dead zone” near the net keeps rallies longer and the action more intense.

Matches are played in a best-of-five format up to 11 points and can feature singles, doubles, or even triples play — making the game fast-paced, flexible, and fun for both weekend warriors and serious competitors alike.

“We’re very excited to bring AirBadminton to more Filipinos,” said Nubla. “Our goal for 2026 is to organize more AirBadminton events and tournaments nationwide, from schools to communities, so that more people can discover and enjoy this exciting version of the sport.” — Mark Rey Montejo