The Austrian Badminton National Championships will take place in Carinthia in 2026 for the first time in 24 years. From January 30th to February 1st, Klagenfurt will be the center of national badminton sport. The game is played in the St. Ruprecht ball arcade.
The date coincides with another anniversary: The Carinthian Badminton Association (KBV) will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2026. The KBV is the oldest regional association in Austria and was founded in Villach in 1956.
Badminton with Olympic tradition
Badminton is one of the fastest racquet sports in the world and has been an Olympic sport for years. Successful competitions require endurance, speed and precise coordination. The number of interested people is also growing in Austria.
Badminton: Carinthia’s historical role
After the Second World War, badminton found its way into Austria due to the British occupation, particularly early on in Carinthia. The federal state is still considered the cradle of Austrian badminton sport.
“A team championship started in the founding year of 1956, followed by the first state individual championships in Klagenfurt in 1957,” recalls the sporting director and long-time coach Klaus Pierl.
Carinthia as the cradle of Austrian badminton
While Carinthian players celebrated national success in the first decades, the club landscape shrank from the late 1980s. While the KBV still had ten clubs in 1976, today there are only two: ASKÖ Badminton Wolfsberg and ASKÖ kelag Kärnten.
Young people play a central role. “A key reason for this is the commitment of volunteer trainers who pass on their passion,” says Claudia Hofer, chairwoman of the ASKÖ kelag Carinthia with around 140 members. Challenges remain: a lack of sports facilities, limited resources and a declining willingness to volunteer.
Badminton national championships as an impulse
By awarding the state championship to Klagenfurt, the association hopes for visibility and boost. High-class competitions, an anniversary program and a reunion of the badminton scene are expected.
Admission is free and a buffet is offered.
Photo: zVg
