Badminton Scotland is working with established community groups to remove barriers to participation, creating welcoming and inclusive opportunities for people from ethnically diverse communities to take part in sport.
In July 2026, the Scottish Governing Body for badminton partnered with Glasgow Central Mosque, where Antony Waring, Membership Officer at Badminton Scotland and Rajani Tyagi, trustee and treasurer of the Scottish Ethnic Minority Sports Association (SEMSA) delivered a physical activity programme designed to support health, wellbeing and inclusion by introducing young people from the Muslim community to badminton.
The partnership with Glasgow Central Mosque was developed through a shared commitment to creating more opportunities for young people to access sport within their local community and participants were recruited directly through the mosque, helping to engage children from the local community who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to try badminton.
The programme was created to provide young people with a safe, welcoming and accessible environment to experience sport and aimed to reduce barriers to participation by delivering badminton in a familiar and trusted environment where young people and families felt comfortable taking part.
Connected by sport
Through a series of engaging sessions over five weeks, 40 young people had the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of badminton, develop new skills, build confidence and enjoy being active alongside peers.
For many participants, it was their first experience of the sport. By bringing badminton directly into local communities, the programme helped reduce barriers that can limit young people's access to regular sporting opportunities.
Antony Waring, Membership Officer at Badminton Scotland and coach of the male sessions on the programme, said:
“The feedback from participants, families and Glasgow Central Mosque was extremely positive. The young people enjoyed learning a new sport in a fun and supportive environment and looked forward to attending each week's session.
"Families appreciated having an accessible activity that encouraged their children to be active, develop new skills and make new friends.”
Antony added: “One of the biggest successes was seeing how quickly participants grew in confidence and enthusiasm for badminton. Many of the children had never played the sport before, but by the end of the programme they had developed new skills, built friendships and were excited to continue playing.”
Serving up opportunities
A key aspect of the programme was ensuring that participation did not end when the sessions finished. One of its aims was to use the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to inspire the next generation of athletes.
Alongside introducing the young people to badminton, the project also highlighted pathways into local clubs and community-based opportunities, helping participants and their families understand how they could remain involved in the sport.
Supporting the delivery of the sessions was Dr Rajani Tyagi, one of Scotland’s leading community sport volunteers and advocates for inclusion through physical activity.
Rajani is a trustee and treasurer of the Scottish Ethnic Minority Sports Association (SEMSA), a Level 1+ qualified Badminton Scotland coach and was sportscotland's Community Club Coach of the Year in 2022.
Drawing on her experience, Rajani helped create a positive and encouraging environment in which young people could develop their skills and confidence.
Reflecting on the programme, Rajani said:
“It was a brilliant initiative, with the girls showing great enthusiasm as they were all new to badminton. We taught them the basic rules, court boundaries, and how to hold a racquet and shuttlecock correctly. The sessions inspired one girl to take up the sport at school, and both parents and participants hoped the programme could continue in the future.”
The initiative highlights the power of partnerships between sport and community organisations. By delivering opportunities in trusted local settings and responding to community needs, it helps build lasting connections to sport and physical activity.
Anthony Waring, Membership Officer at Badminton Scotland said:
“Initiatives like this are an important part of Badminton Scotland's commitment to making badminton accessible to everyone and play a vital role in ensuring badminton reflects the diversity of Scotland's communities, inspiring more young people to take part in the sport and creating opportunities for lifelong participation”.
Spotlight on: SEMSA Badminton
SEMSA is a Glasgow-based charity that uses sport and physical activity to help bring people together, reduce isolation, and improve health and wellbeing among Scotland's ethnic minority communities.
Established in 1996 by founder Dilawer Singh MBE, the charity works with organisations including Glasgow Life, local authorities, community organisations and sport’s governing bodies to create more inclusive sporting opportunities.
SEMSA Badminton is an open club for all individuals from all different backgrounds and ethnicity. The club brings together people from all over the world with participants from Scotland, England, Ireland, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Spain, Greece, Barbados, Nigeria or even as far as Australia!
Rajani is often one of the key organisers behind the association's badminton events and tournaments, which have become some of its most visible and successful activities.
A Glasgow 2026 legacy on court
In June 2026, SEMSA hosted a women’s badminton tournament for singles and doubles players, featuring beginner, intermediate, and advanced categories. The event welcomed over 50 participants and was delivered with support from the Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund and the 2026 Summer of Sport programme.
The Commonwealth Festival women’s tournament was unique and helped participants feel connected to the excitement of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Winners received a unique 'Commonwealth Festival 2026' trophy, creating a memorable legacy attached to the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and a sense of pride in being part of the wider sporting celebration.
Two new mothers took part in the tournament and highlighted the value of the opportunity, saying:
“We love the sport and are always happy to come back because of the facilities, coaching support, and opportunities to compete through tournaments like this.”
Another participant shared an inspiring example of the tournament’s competitive spirit, saying:
“Despite sustaining an injury, one player was determined not to give her opponents a bye, saying she would rather play and lose than advance them without a contest. That's the enthusiasm and spirit seen when the environment to play is right.”
In addition to badminton programmes, the organisation has established a range of initiatives such as cricket, football, coaching and capacity building and national competitions where all levels of players are invited to enjoy sport in a safe, non-judgemental and culturally sensitive environment.
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