A study published in the ‘International Journal of Racket Sports’ has suggested that the use of “sliding benchmarks” can help identify talent in young players who do not fit traditional physical development standards. The research, carried out by academics from universities in Belgium, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, and the Netherlands, examined a case in which 33 players were invited to represent Malaysia in the under-13 badminton category.

Although younger and less physically mature players were at a disadvantage compared to their peers due to their morphology, fitness, and motor skills, the study showed that by applying this system, six players were identified who later achieved outstanding results, including two who went on to win the ‘BWF World Junior Championships’.

An intervention that changed sporting careers

The authors of the study stated: “As a result of the sliding benchmark intervention, two relatively younger, late-maturing players with superior motor competence scores were selected for the elite sports school. Without this intervention, both might never have won the BWF Junior World Championships.”

This finding supports the idea that adjusting evaluation criteria according to players’ maturity and development can prevent promising talent from being excluded from selection systems at an early age, particularly in highly competitive sports such as badminton.

32 research projects

The study is part of this year’s funding cycle of the Badminton World Federation -BWF- Research Grants Programme. For this edition, BWF has prioritised projects focusing on sports performance, player development and coaching, as well as physical activity, mental health, and overall wellbeing.

Research lines related to injury prevention, medical research, inclusive badminton, and para-badminton have also been included, along with initiatives aimed at strengthening organisational performance and the development of national federations.

In total, BWF received 110 research project applications, of which 32 have been shortlisted for further assessment. These projects aim not only to provide relevant scientific data for the development of badminton but also to deliver practical tools that can be applied in training and high-performance environments.