Wales national badminton team

National badminton team

Wales

Association| Badminton Wales (BW)
Confederation| BE (Europe)
President| Cath McCluskey
BWF ranking
Current ranking| 102  5 (2 January 2024)
Highest ranking| 36 (7 January 2013)
Sudirman Cup
Appearances| 8 (first in 1993)
Best result| Group stage
European Mixed Team Championships
Appearances| 21 (first in 1972)
Best result| Quarter-finals (1984, 1986)
European Men's Team Championships
Appearances| 6 (first in 2004)
Best result| Quarter-finals (2008)
European Women's Team Championships
Appearances| 6 (first in 2004)
Best result| Group stage
Helvetia Cup
Appearances| 14 (first in 1969)
Best result| Runners-up (1983, 1985, 1987)

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Thomas Cup

[edit]

| Year  | Round  | Pos

|
|

1949 | Did not enter
1952
1955 | Did not qualify
1958 | Did not enter
1961
1964
1967
1970
1973
1976
1979
1982
1984 | Did not qualify
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012 | Did not enter
2014 | Did not qualify
2016 | Did not enter
2018
2020 | Did not qualify
2022
2024 | TBD
2026
2028
2030

### Uber Cup

[edit]

| Year  | Round  | Pos

|
|

1957 | Did not enter
1960
1963
1966
1969
1972
1975
1978
1981
1984
1986 | Did not qualify
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012 | Did not enter
2014 | Did not qualify
2016 | Did not enter
2018
2020 | Did not qualify
2022
2024 | TBD
2026
2028
2030

### Sudirman Cup

[edit]

| Year  | Round  | Pos

|
|

1989 | Did not enter
1991
1993 | Group stage  | 29th
1995 | Group stage  | 28th
1997 | Group stage  | 26th
1999 | Group stage  | 23rd
2001 | Group stage  | 20th
2003 | Group stage  | 19th
2005 | Group stage  | 24th
2007 | Group stage  | 30th
2009 | Did not enter
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
2025 | TBD
2027
2029

### Commonwealth Games

[edit]

See also: Badminton at the Commonwealth Games

#### Men's team

[edit]

| Year  | Round  | Pos

|
|

1998 | Group stage  | 11th

#### Women's team

[edit]

| Year  | Round  | Pos

|
|

1998 | Group stage  | 13th

#### Mixed team

[edit]

| 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

[edit]

#### Men's team

[edit]

| 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

#### Women's team

[edit]

| 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

#### Mixed team

[edit]

| 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

### Helvetia Cup

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Suhandinata Cup

[edit]

See also: BWF World Junior Championships

Year  | Round  | Pos

|
|

2000 | Did not enter
2002
2004
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2022
2023
2024 | TBD

### Commonwealth Youth Games

[edit]

#### Mixed team

[edit]

Year  | Round  | Pos

|
|

2004 | Did not enter

### European Junior Team Championships

[edit]

See also: European Junior Badminton Championships

#### Mixed team

[edit]

Year  | Round  | Pos

|
|

1975 | Group stage  | 11th
1977 | Did not enter
1979 | Group stage  | 12th
1981 | Group stage  | 7th
1983 | Group stage  | 8th
1985 | Group stage  | 8th
1987 | Group stage  | 11th
1989 | Group stage  | 12th
1991 | Group stage  | 12th
1993 | Group stage  | 9th
1995 | Group stage  | 16th
1997 | Did not qualify
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009 | Group stage  | 18th
2011 | Group stage  | 29th
2013 | Group stage  | 21st
2015 | Did not enter
2017
2018
2020
2022
2024 | TBD

### Finlandia Cup

[edit]

#### Mixed team

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Current squad

[edit]

As of 2 January 2024

#### Men's team

[edit]

Name  | DoB/Age  | Ranking of event

|
|

MS  | MD  | XD
Andrew Oates |  (1999-07-29) 29 July 1999 (age 25) | \-  | 941  | 478
Archie Bult |  (2003-04-11) 11 April 2003 (age 22) | 988  | \-  | \-
Andrew Jones |  (1997-10-11) 11 October 1997 (age 27) | \-  | 1229  | \-
Adam Stewart |  (1996-03-18) 18 March 1996 (age 29) | \-  | 1229  | \-
Mebel Mano Kurian |  (2009-01-01) 1 January 2009 (age 16) | 1217  | 1181  | \-
Jewel Mano Varughese |  (2006-01-02) 2 January 2006 (age 19) | 1561  | 1181  | \-
Harper Leigh |  (2006-09-01) 1 September 2006 (age 18) | 1195  | \-  | \-
Scott Oates |  (1998-04-10) 10 April 1998 (age 27) | \-  | 941  | \-

#### Women's team

[edit]

Name  | DoB/Age  | Ranking of event

|
|

WS  | WD  | XD
Jordan Hart |  (1995-01-26) 26 January 1995 (age 30) | 535  | \-  | \-
Jessica Ding |  (2003-11-27) 27 November 2003 (age 21) | 1134  | \-  | \-
Learna Herkes |  (2003-10-13) 13 October 2003 (age 21) | \-  | \-  | \-
Jasmine Owen |  (2004-03-04) 4 March 2004 (age 21) | \-  | \-  | \-
Aimie Whiteman |  (2003-05-23) 23 May 2003 (age 22) | \-  | \-  | \-
Saffron Morris |  (2007-07-03) 3 July 2007 (age 17) | 373  | 336  | 478
Alice Palmer |  (1992-02-26) 26 February 1992 (age 33) | \-  | \-  | \-
Katie Whiteman |  (2000-10-13) 13 October 2000 (age 24) | \-  | \-  | \-

### Previous squads

[edit]

#### Sudirman Cup

[edit]

* 2007

#### European Team Championships

[edit]

* Men's team: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2020
* Women's team: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2020
* Mixed team: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2007 Sudirman Cup - Groups" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-03-21. Retrieved 2007-05-28.
2. ^ "History". badmintonwales.net. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
3. ^ "Badminton Wales - Brief History". Badminton Wales. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
4. ^ "Badminton Wales welcomes Chris Rees as Performance Coach". www.badmintoneurope.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
5. ^ a b c d "Archiv Thomas Cup". Mike's Badminton Populorum. Archived from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
6. ^ "BWF - 2006 European M & W Team Championships - General". bwf.tournamentsoftware.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
7. ^ "BWF - European Men's & Women's Team Championships 2008 - General". bwf.tournamentsoftware.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
8. ^ "BWF - European Men's & Women's Team Championships 2008 - Germany - Wales: 3-0". bwf.tournamentsoftware.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
9. ^ a b c "Uber Cup Results". World Badminton. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
10. ^ "BWF - 2006 European M & W Team Championships - General". bwf.tournamentsoftware.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
11. ^ 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.
12. ^ "BadmintonEurope.com - European Mixed Team Championships". badmintoneurope.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.

* v
* t
* e

National sports teams of Wales

* Badminton
* Basketball
* M
* M U18
* M U16
* W
* W U18
* W U16
* Cricket
* M
* W
* Field hockey
* M
* W
* Football
* M
* M U21
* M U20
* M U19
* M U18
* M U17
* Semi-Pro
* W
* W U19
* W U17
* Futsal
* Ice hockey
* International cricket
* M
* Lions
* M U19
* W
* W U19
* Korfball
* Netball
* Rugby League
* M
* W
* Wheelchair
* Rugby union
* M
* M U20
* M U18
* M A
* M 7s
* W
* W 7s
* Squash
* Volleyball

* Wales at the Commonwealth Games

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template