The Championships, due to take place from June 24 to 29 at Loughborough University, are billed as the "flagship event" in the Para-badminton calender, and will see the best players from Europe and around the world compete across multiple classifications.

DPI have a long involvement with the sport in England, and are currently Badminton England's production and installation specialist for many of its competitions and events, including the All England Open Championships and National Championships.

"We are delighted to be named as an official supplier of the International Para-Badminton Championships tournament," said Carl Meadows, signage director at DPI.

"We wanted to give something back and this was the ideal opportunity.

"Now we can't wait for the tournament."

Following the announcement in March that badminton was one of two sports, along with taekwondo, to be shortlisted by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for inclusion at Tokyo 2020, it is hoped the latest sponsorship will add further momentum to the campaign.

Badminton is bidding to follow the path of canoeing and triathlon after the two sports were added to the programme for Rio 2016 ©Getty Images







Speaking earlier this year, Badminton World Federation President Poul-Erik Høyer claimed he "strongly believe Para-badminton has a lot to offer the global Paralympic family".

He added "Para-badminton, like badminton, has a wow factor and real spectator appeal at the elite level", before adding, "if we have the honour of being included in Tokyo 2020, fans in the stadium and around the world will love the outstanding action which Para-badminton offers".

A final decision on whether badminton or taekwondo will be added to the Tokyo 2020 programme is due to be made during an IPC Governing Board meeting in Berlin from October 6 and 7.

The International Open event in Loughborough will follow another major international tournament, the Indonesia Open Para-Badminton Championships, set to take place from June 9 to 13.

The European season will then peak with the Continental Championships, in the Spanish town of Murcia, due to be held from September 9 until 13, while the sport will also feature on the programme at the Asian Para Games in Incheon scheduled from October 18 until 24.

The Para-badminton World Championships are held every two years and, after last taking place in November 2013 in Dortmund, will not be held this year.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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