Mexico has set ambitious goals to promote badminton development through the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) Enhanced Membership Grant. This project aims to involve approximately 250,000 people, including 170,000 children, 20,000 university students, and a significant number of adults and seniors, in the sport over the next four years.
On February 17, 2025, the Mexican Badminton Federation (FEMEBA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BWF and other key stakeholders in Aguascalientes, Mexico. With this agreement, Mexico became the second country to receive the Enhanced Membership Grant, following Egypt, which was the first in March 2024. This program provides financial and technical support to selected federations with the goal of significantly accelerating badminton growth in key areas.
Infrastructure and development centers in Mexico
One of FEMEBA’s main objectives is to improve badminton infrastructure across the country. The plan includes establishing three to four technical development centers in different regions: one in the north, another in the northeast, one in the center, and one in the southeast of Mexico. These centers will be essential for the sport’s growth and to ensure access to quality facilities.
Additionally, FEMEBA aims to involve sports and educational institutions in badminton development. By 2028, the federation plans to recruit 16 new tutors annually, ensuring that each state has at least two tutors. AirBadminton will also be introduced in at least one municipality per state, while Para badminton will have a dedicated coach in each state and a competitive national circuit.
School programs and professionalization of badminton
The Shuttle Time program will play a key role in badminton development in Mexico, particularly in schools. FEMEBA plans to organize state school tournaments and scout promising young talent. According to Francisco Javier Orozco Flores, president of FEMEBA, this program will help improve the federation’s basic structure, which currently relies heavily on voluntary collaborators.
“I think the main program we are going to support is school badminton through Shuttle Time courses. We will begin the path to improve the basic structure of our federation, as our collaborators currently work on a voluntary basis. We want this to change in the next four years,” explained Orozco Flores.
Mexico as a model for badminton development in the region
David Cabello, Chair of the BWF Development and Sport for All Committee, highlighted the reasons why Mexico was selected for the Enhanced Membership Grant. According to Cabello, more than 45 individual metrics were assessed to identify countries with the potential to accelerate badminton growth and quality at the national level. Mexico stood out for its rich sporting culture, strong infrastructure, and government support for sports.
“In Mexico, we see a country with the potential to be a leader in the region, to compete at an international level, and to inspire other countries in Pan Am and other regions to do the same,” said Cabello. This project positions Mexico as a reference for badminton development in the Americas and as a model for other nations to follow.
