BWF Senior Classifier Prof. Dr. Nevin A. Guzel led a team of five last week at a BWF Para Badminton National Level 2 Classifier Workshop in Dubai for eight participants from Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Maldives.
Held from 22 to 24 May, it allowed first-time athletes at the 4th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2022 to be accurately classified for their playing categories.
“Our Level 2 workshops are open to doctors or physiotherapists who already have Level 1 qualification and some Para badminton involvement, either with their own teams or in their country at the national level. Some of them also have other Para sports experience,” said Dr. Guzel, who has been an international classifier since 2015 after choosing to focus on Para badminton in her native Turkey 12 years ago.
The aim is to ensure every continent has a sufficient number of international classifiers, who can then be relied upon to select and classify athletes at national level, thus making them eligible for competition.
“The participants already have a medical background but we want them to learn minimal impairment criteria well. This way, they will be able to determine who is suitable for Para badminton as well as learn the basic differences between wheelchair classes and standing athletes.”
A participant observing Dr. Guzel (right) assessing a player.
In Dubai, Dr. Guzel and her team carried out reclassification of several players.
Dr. Guzel said: “This can be due to borderline cases or a progressive disease, so the situation may change over time. In addition, athletes in the Short Stature (SH6) category under the age of 18 should be reclassified at certain intervals until the age of 18, when growth is patched.”
After recent travel restrictions made it tricky for classifiers to be assigned to tournaments globally, this training course will meet the region’s need for internationally-certified classifiers.
“There’s a requirement for two international classifiers in each panel and two panels at a tournament but it’s been difficult for them to travel. After this course, we will overcome this problem. For the first time in a long time, we managed to have four international classifiers and two panels,” said Dr. Guzel.
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