A historic moment has arrived for the Azerbaijan Badminton Federation (ABF).
ABF has officially joined the Council of the Badminton World Federation (BWF), Idman.biz reports.
At the 86th BWF Annual General Meeting held in Xiamen, China, ABF President Taleh Ziyadov was elected as one of the Council members representing Europe for a four-year term. The BWF represents 143 countries, 744 million badminton fans, and 400 million players. At the same meeting, Thailand’s Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul was elected as BWF President for the next four years.
Taleh Ziyadov noted that Azerbaijan’s role on the BWF Council will significantly boost the development of badminton in the country.
Azerbaijan has climbed from 85th to 46th in the BWF world rankings. The country has also successfully hosted major international badminton events, including the 2023 European Badminton Confederation Congress and the upcoming 2025 European Mixed Team Championships.
The ABF has made important contributions to the global promotion and development of badminton, supporting initiatives like the “Shuttle Time” program. Notably, the federation has provided badminton equipment—including rackets and shuttlecocks—to Botswana, Djibouti, Cameroon, Gambia, and Madagascar to help promote the sport in Africa.
In recognition of its outstanding support for the development of badminton in Africa, the ABF was honored with the BWF Inclusive 2025 Award at this year’s Annual Meeting. Founded in 1962, the Azerbaijan Badminton Federation has become one of the most active members of the global badminton family through its international tournaments, development programs, and strategic partnerships.
Idman.biz
