What an incredible day at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow! We’re absolutely thrilled to share that 157 amazing badminton players from across Scotland have just broken the Guinness World Record for the most participants in a single badminton rally.
This fantastic achievement wasn’t just about making history – it was about bringing people together to support our community and launch ticket sales for the Scottish Open Championships.
The previous record of 123 participants had stood since 2014, before being extended to 129 by a club in Japan earlier this month. But Scotland wasn’t going to let that stand for long!
The rally began with a very special first shot served by 18-year-old Ross Ferrando from Melrose, who has Down’s syndrome. Ross was beaming with pride as he said: “I can’t believe we broke the record! I’m so proud to have been part of this. I love badminton and it’s just amazing to be here with all these players for this event.”
At the other end of the rally, 80-year-old Yulian Zhai hit the 157th and final successful shot. “This has been amazing!” Yulian said. “I can’t believe I’m a sporting record-breaker at my age!”
What made this event truly special was seeing the Scottish badminton community unite for such a meaningful cause. Each player had to hit their shot and then quickly run off the court to make way for the next player – imagine the coordination that took!
Kevin Scott, chair of Badminton Scotland, captured the spirit perfectly: “This was a brilliant effort by all the players involved. To have so many players hit a shot then run off the court to make way for the next player consecutively is incredible and a great advert for the sport of badminton in this country.”
We’re absolutely delighted that Badminton Scotland chose Down’s Syndrome Scotland as their charity partner for this record-breaking attempt. It’s wonderful to see sporting communities recognise the importance of inclusion and support for people with Down’s syndrome.
This event perfectly demonstrates what we know to be true – when barriers are removed and people are given opportunities, amazing things happen. Ross’s involvement as the first player to serve shows exactly the kind of meaningful participation we champion every day.
The record attempt was designed to launch ticket sales for the Scottish Open Championships, which will take place at the Emirates Arena in November. This world-class event will feature top players from Scotland and around the globe.
Julie Pearson from Glasgow Life, which supports the Scottish Open, said: “Glasgow is internationally known as a world-class sporting city, so we are thrilled to support this incredible Guinness World Record attempt, which is the perfect warm-up to The Scottish Open Badminton Championships.”
We’re thrilled to share that this incredible day raised £1,614.03 for Down’s Syndrome Scotland! Thanks to everyone who donated and supported this fantastic cause – your generosity will make a real difference to people with Down’s syndrome and their families across Scotland.
The partnership with Badminton Scotland has been truly special, and we’ve received a wonderful charity certificate and letter of appreciation recognising this achievement.
The official record is currently being submitted to Guinness World Records for formal ratification, which can take up to three months to make it official. But regardless of the paperwork, what happened at the Emirates Arena was already a win for everyone involved.
If you fancy watching some world-class badminton action at the Scottish Open in November, tickets are available here. Badminton Scotland members even get 50% off!
Congratulations to every single player who took part – you’ve shown that when communities come together, records aren’t just broken, they’re smashed!
If you’d like to become involved please contact secretary by email at lothiandbc@gmail.com