National badminton team
Wales |
| Association | Badminton Wales (BW) |
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| Confederation | BE (Europe) |
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| President | Cath McCluskey |
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| BWF ranking |
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| Current ranking | 102  5 (2 January 2024) |
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| Highest ranking | 36 (7 January 2013) |
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| Sudirman Cup |
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| Appearances | 8 (first in 1993) |
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| Best result | Group stage |
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| European Mixed Team Championships |
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| Appearances | 21 (first in 1972) |
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| Best result | Quarter-finals (1984, 1986) |
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| European Men's Team Championships |
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| Appearances | 6 (first in 2004) |
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| Best result | Quarter-finals (2008) |
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| European Women's Team Championships |
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| Appearances | 6 (first in 2004) |
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| Best result | Group stage |
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| Helvetia Cup |
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| Appearances | 14 (first in 1969) |
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| Best result | Runners-up (1983, 1985, 1987) |
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The Wales national badminton team (Welsh: Tîm badminton cenedlaethol Cymru) represents Wales in international badminton team competitions.[1] It is controlled by Badminton Wales, the national organization for badminton in the country. Wales have never participated in the Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup. The team's last appearance in the international stage was at the 2007 Sudirman Cup.
The Welsh team had participated in the 2020 European Men's and Women's Team Badminton Championships but were defeated in the group stage.
History
Badminton has been played in Wales since the early 1920s. Welsh players then competed in the All England Open Badminton Championships and the Welsh International Championships. In 1928, Badminton Wales (then called the Welsh Badminton Union) was formed. Wales was also one of the nine founder members of the Badminton World Federation.[2][3]
The Welsh national team competed in their first ever international team event when its first few players were sent to qualify for the 1955 Thomas Cup.
Former national player Chris Rees was selected to be the performance coach of the Welsh national badminton team in 2020.[4]
Men's team
The Welsh men's team first competed in the 1955 Thomas Cup qualifiers. The team failed to advance to the inter-zone elimination round after losing 9−0 to Denmark on home soil.[5] The men's team returned to qualify for the 1984 Thomas Cup after a long hiatus.[5] The team beat Finland and the Netherlands 4−1 but lost their chances of entering the second round after losing 4−1 to Sweden. In the qualifiers for the 1986 Thomas Cup, the team won against Finland and Norway but failed to advance further after losing to England.[5]
In the 1990 Thomas Cup qualifiers, the Welsh team made history after they advanced to the semi-final stages for the first time, beating Bulgaria, Spain and Kenya in their group. They then lost to Sweden and Canada in the semi-final stages and failed to edge out against Austria.[5]
The Welsh team competed in the inaugural edition of the European Men's Team Badminton Championships in 2006 but were halted in the group stage.[6] They showed improvement two years later in the 2008 European Men's Team Badminton Championships by not only advancing to the quarter-finals but also topping the group for the very first time.[7] The team were defeated by Germany in the quarter-finals.[8]
Women's team
The Welsh women's team took part in qualifying for the 1986 Uber Cup. The team lost in the first round group stage to Germany, England and Ireland.[9] In the 1996 Uber Cup qualifiers, the team entered the second round after beating Slovenia, Austria and Spain but lost in the second round group stage to Denmark, Scotland and India.[9] The women's team entered the second round for the next few Uber Cup qualifiers but did not advance further.[9]
The women's team also competed in the 2006 European Women's Team Badminton Championships. They failed to get past the group stages.[10]
Mixed team
The Welsh mixed team first competed in the 1969 Helvetia Cup and finished in 5th place. In the 1970 Helvetia Cup, the Welsh team beat Norway in the third place tie.[11] The team also competed in the inaugural edition of the European Mixed Team Badminton Championships in 1972 but were eliminated in the group stages.[12] The team were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 1974 European Mixed Team Championships.
The Welsh team made history by entering the 1983 Helvetia Cup. They lost the final to Germany.[11] The team entered the Helvetia Cup finals two consecutive times in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Netherlands and Germany respectively.[11]
Competitive record
Thomas Cup | Uber Cup | Sudirman Cup |
Commonwealth Games
Men's team | Year | Round | Pos | | 1998 | Group stage | 11th | | Women's team | Year | Round | Pos | | 1998 | Group stage | 13th | | Mixed team | Year | Round | Pos | | 1978 | Group stage | 9th | | 1982 | Did not enter | | 1986 | Group stage | 8th | | 1990 | Did not enter | | 1994 | Group stage | 8th | | 2002 | Group stage | 7th | | 2006 | Did not enter | | 2010 | Group stage | 10th | | 2014 | Group stage | 13th | | 2018 | Did not enter | | 2022 | | 2026 | TBD | |
European Team Championships
| Year | Round | Pos | | 2004 | Group stage | 17th | | 2006 | Group stage | 9th | | 2008 | Quarter-finals | 8th | | 2010 | Group stage | 20th | | 2012 | Did not enter | | 2014 | Group stage | 24th | | 2016 | Withdrew | | 2018 | Did not enter | | 2020 | Group stage | 29th | | 2024 | Did not enter | | 2026 | TBD | | 2028 | | 2030 | | | Year | Round | Pos | | 2004 | Group stage | 10th | | 2006 | Group stage | 28th | | 2008 | Group stage | 26th | | 2010 | Group stage | 13th | | 2012 | Did not enter | | 2014 | Group stage | 15th | | 2016 | Withdrew | | 2018 | Did not enter | | 2020 | Group stage | 29th | | 2024 | Did not enter | | 2026 | TBD | | 2028 | | 2030 | | | Year | Round | Pos | | 1972 | Group stage | 10th | | 1974 | Group stage | 7th | | 1976 | Group stage | 9th | | 1978 | Group stage | 10th | | 1980 | Group stage | 9th | | 1982 | Group stage | 10th | | 1984 | Quarter-finals | 8th | | 1986 | Quarter-finals | 8th | | 1988 | Group stage | 9th | | 1990 | Group stage | 11th | | 1992 | Group stage | 11th | | 1994 | Group stage | 9th | | 1996 | Group stage | 10th | | 1998 | Group stage | 13th | | 2000 | Group stage | 11th | | 2002 | Group stage | 10th | | 2004 | Group stage | 11th | | 2006 | Group stage | 16th | | 2008 | Did not enter | | 2009 | Group stage | 28th | | 2011 | Group stage | 23rd | | 2013 | Group stage | 28th | | 2015 | Did not enter | | 2017 | | 2019 | | 2021 | Did not qualify | | 2023 | Did not enter | | 2025 | TBD | | 2027 | | 2029 | |
| Year | Round | Pos |
| 1962 | Did not enter |
| 1963 |
| 1964 |
| 1965 |
| 1966 |
| 1967 |
| 1968 |
| 1969 | Fifth place | 5th |
| 1970 | Third place | 3rd |
| 1971 | Group stage | 8th |
| 1973 | Group stage | 8th |
| 1975 | Group stage | 5th |
| 1977 | Group stage | 6th |
| 1979 | Fourth place | 4th |
| 1981 | Third place | 3rd |
| 1983 | Runners-up | 2nd |
| 1985 | Runners-up | 2nd |
| 1987 | Runners-up | 2nd |
| 1989 | Fourth place | 4th |
| 1991 | Fourth place | 4th |
| 1993 | Group stage | 10th |
| 1995 | Did not enter |
| 1997 |
| 1999 |
| 2001 |
| 2003 |
| 2005 |
| 2007 |
- **Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Junior competitive record
Suhandinata Cup
Commonwealth Youth Games
Mixed team
| Year | Round | Pos |
| 2004 | Did not enter |
European Junior Team Championships
Mixed team
Finlandia Cup
Mixed team
| Year | Round | Pos |
| 1984 | Fourth place | 4th |
| 1986 | Group stage | 9th |
| 1988 | Group stage | 5th |
| 1990 | Group stage | 5th |
| 1992 | Group stage | 5th |
| 1994 | Did not enter |
| 1996 | Group stage | 7th |
| 1998 | Group stage | 8th |
| 2000 | Group stage | 10th |
| 2002 | Group stage | 19th |
| 2004 | Group stage | 8th |
| 2006 | Group stage | 15th |
- **Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Staff
The following list shows the coaching staff for the national badminton of Wales.
| Name | Role |
 Daniel Font | Head coach |
| Luke Bailey | Support coach |
| Chris Rees | Performance coach |
Players
Current squad
- As of 2 January 2024
Men's team
| Name | DoB/Age | Ranking of event |
| MS | MD | XD |
| Andrew Oates | (1999-07-29) 29 July 1999 (age 24) | - | 941 | 478 |
| Archie Bult | (2003-04-11) 11 April 2003 (age 21) | 988 | - | - |
| Andrew Jones | (1997-10-11) 11 October 1997 (age 26) | - | 1229 | - |
| Adam Stewart | (1996-03-18) 18 March 1996 (age 28) | - | 1229 | - |
| Mebel Mano Kurian | (2009-01-01) 1 January 2009 (age 15) | 1217 | 1181 | - |
| Jewel Mano Varughese | (2006-01-02) 2 January 2006 (age 18) | 1561 | 1181 | - |
| Harper Leigh | (2006-09-01) 1 September 2006 (age 17) | 1195 | - | - |
| Scott Oates | (1998-04-10) 10 April 1998 (age 26) | - | 941 | - |
Women's team
| Name | DoB/Age | Ranking of event |
| WS | WD | XD |
| Jordan Hart | (1995-01-26) 26 January 1995 (age 29) | 535 | - | - |
| Jessica Ding | (2003-11-27) 27 November 2003 (age 20) | 1134 | - | - |
| Learna Herkes | (2003-10-13) 13 October 2003 (age 20) | - | - | - |
| Jasmine Owen | (2004-03-04) 4 March 2004 (age 20) | - | - | - |
| Aimie Whiteman | (2003-05-23) 23 May 2003 (age 20) | - | - | - |
| Saffron Morris | (2007-07-03) 3 July 2007 (age 16) | 373 | 336 | 478 |
| Alice Palmer | (1992-02-26) 26 February 1992 (age 32) | - | - | - |
| Katie Whiteman | (2000-10-13) 13 October 2000 (age 23) | - | - | - |
Previous squads
Sudirman Cup
European Team Championships
- Men's team: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2020
- Women's team: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2020
- Mixed team: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013
References
- ^ "2007 Sudirman Cup - Groups" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-03-21. Retrieved 2007-05-28.
- ^ "History". badmintonwales.net. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ "Badminton Wales - Brief History". Badminton Wales. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ "Badminton Wales welcomes Chris Rees as Performance Coach". www.badmintoneurope.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ a b c d "Archiv Thomas Cup". Mike's Badminton Populorum. Archived from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "BWF - 2006 European M & W Team Championships - General". bwf.tournamentsoftware.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ "BWF - European Men's & Women's Team Championships 2008 - General". bwf.tournamentsoftware.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ "BWF - European Men's & Women's Team Championships 2008 - Germany - Wales: 3-0". bwf.tournamentsoftware.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ a b c "Uber Cup Results". World Badminton. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "BWF - 2006 European M & W Team Championships - General". bwf.tournamentsoftware.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ a b c "EBU-Turniere / Europameisterschaften im Detail Helvetia Cup (B-Klasse Mannschaften)". Mike's Badminton Populorum. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "BadmintonEurope.com - European Mixed Team Championships". badmintoneurope.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
5 (2 January 2024)
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