Ying Yao; Yuening Li; Yixing Zhu & Ping Gao

Summary

The physical fitness parameters and characteristics of elite Paralympic badminton players remain understudied on an international level. This study aims to analyze physical fitness parameters and traits specifically among Chinese elite Paralympic badminton players to propose tailored training strategies. The research focused on twenty-four Chinese national team players, categorized into three groups: eight wheelchair athletes (four male, four female), nine male standing athletes, and seven female standing athletes, among who nine were Paralympic gold medalists. The following parameters were measured: sitting height/height, arm and forearm circumferences, chest circumference, body fat percentage, absolute strength in bench press, bench pull, and badminton throw far, along with 12 minutes of wheelchair push/run, and multi-directional movement abilities. Notably, compared with the average Chinese team athlete, the elite players had taller sitting height/height, lower body fat percentages, superior aerobic endurance, and enhanced agility. KEY WORDS: Paralympic badminton; Elite athletes; Body shape; Physical fitness; Paralympics.

How to cite this article

YAO, Y.; LI, Y.; ZHU, Y. & GAO, P. Physical fitness parameters of Chinese elite paralympic badminton players. Int. J. Morphol., 43(2):547-553, 2025.