Report prepared by the CSSH Sports Medicine & Physiotherapy Team.
In partnership with Kotak Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy.
Understanding Injury Patterns in Junior Badminton
Junior badminton places considerable physical demands on developing athletes. Understanding where, when, and how injuries occur can help inform better approaches to injury prevention, athlete preparation, and recovery.
As the Official Sports Medicine & Health Partner for the Yonex-Sunrise All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament 2026, the Center for Spine & Sports Health (CSSH), in partnership with Kotak Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, provided comprehensive sports medicine and physiotherapy coverage throughout the tournament.
The tournament also provided an opportunity to document injury presentations among young badminton athletes and identify patterns that can help shape future injury-prevention strategies.
176
Injury presentations managed during the tournament
73.4%
of all injury presentations occurred in athletes aged 13-15 years
66.7%
(two-thirds) of all reported injury cases involved male athletes
87.5%
of the total injury burden occurred during singles events
The knee
was the most commonly injured anatomical site.
Approx. 75%
(three-quarters) of all injuries involved the lower extremities
Lower-Limb Injuries Dominated
Lower-extremity injuries represented the largest share of injury presentations.
The knee, hamstring and ankle were among the most frequently affected anatomical regions, highlighting the physical demands placed on the lower limbs during badminton.
The findings reinforce the need to look beyond injury treatment and focus on preparation and prevention across the athlete journey.
What the Findings Tell Us
The injury patterns observed during the tournament highlight several areas that may warrant greater attention in junior badminton:
For developing athletes, injury prevention is not simply about responding when an injury occurs. It is about building the physical capacity required to handle the demands of the sport.
From Injury Care to Injury Prevention
At CSSH, our approach to sports medicine combines injury management, rehabilitation, sports science, strength & conditioning and performance assessment to support athletes across different stages of their development.
Data from sporting events can play an important role in this process by helping teams understand injury patterns and identify areas where preventive strategies can be strengthened.
Explore the detailed injury surveillance findings from the Yonex-Sunrise All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament 2026, including injury presentations and key observations from the tournament.
