HSBC is partnering with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the sport’s governing body – a move that they hope will boost the popularity of the sport across the globe.

The bank will support the organisation’s full programme of events over the next four years. This includes being the title sponsor of the BWF World Tour, which this year comprises 26 tournaments in 20 countries and territories including Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, the UK and the US.

Through this partnership, we look forward to supporting badminton at all levels. 

HSBC will also be the title sponsor of the World Tour Finals, where the highest-ranked singles and doubles players compete. From 2018, the finals will be held in the city of Guangzhou, in China’s Pearl River Delta.

Helen Wong, Chief Executive, Greater China, HSBC, said: “HSBC is excited to help grow this popular sport across Asia and beyond. The Pearl River Delta is an important market for HSBC and it’s great to see Guangzhou being celebrated as the new home for the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals.Play Video

Badminton is particularly popular in Asia, where HSBC has a strong and growing presence. But the federation’s vision is to make it a global sport that is accessible to everyone.

As well as sponsoring high-level tournaments, HSBC will work with the BWF to promote badminton at the grass roots, encouraging more people to play and follow the sport. The bank will also sponsor the BWF World Junior Championships and BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships, a platform for up-and-coming stars to shine.

BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer said the partnership with HSBC is a “significant milestone” in the governing body’s history.

Badminton is the latest addition to the bank’s sporting sponsorship portfolio, which includes rugby, golf, tennis and cycling.Read the related media release on the BWF website.

Badminton facts

• Although sometimes thought of as a gentle game, badminton is in fact a fast and vigorous sport: the speediest smashes on record have topped 250 miles per hour. This is faster than record-breaking tennis serves, and even top speeds in Formula One
• During an average top-level match, players can hit the shuttlecock 400 times each, travelling several miles around the court
• The sport takes its name from Badminton in Gloucestershire, England, where the Duke of Beaufort is said to have introduced a game involving shuttlecocks to guests at his estate in 1873
• Today, however, many top-flight players come from Asia: At the start of 2018, nine of the top 10 male singles players and nine of the top 10 female singles players in BWF rankings represent Asian countries
• Under BWF rules, tournament shuttlecocks must have exactly 16 feathers, which can be made of natural feathers or a synthetic alternative