April 8 (Reuters) - The ⁠Badminton World Federation (BWF) has approved ⁠the use of synthetic feather shuttlecocks ‌at selected grade three and junior international tournaments, as part of its long‑term strategy to assess ​their potential use at the ⁠elite level. The decision ⁠comes amid reports of the rising cost ⁠of shuttlecocks ‌made from duck or goose feathers, driven by shortages of ⁠raw materials and the sport’s growing ​global popularity. BWF ‌secretary‑general Thomas Lund downplayed the severity ⁠of the ​situation last year, but acknowledged that manufacturers needed to address supply‑chain challenges and ⁠speed up the development of ​synthetic alternatives. The BWF said it would evaluate the quality and performance of synthetic shuttlecocks ⁠in higher‑level competitive environments, with particular emphasis on ensuring that flight and playing characteristics meet existing competition standards. “The trial ​will include the collection ⁠of manufacturer performance data, alongside feedback from ​players, technical officials, and ‌event organisers,” it said on ​Wednesday.

Source: The Star April 08, 2026 13:56 UTC