Team Skyfall crowned National Badminton League champions

What an end it was to this year’s return of the National Badminton League! This was a pilot season for the NBL and congratulations to Team Skyfall who win all three of their fixtures during what was a very closely-fought competition that reached its climax in March.

First launching in October 2014, the National Badminton League initially included six franchise teams before expanding to seven by the time it reached its final year in 2017.

Then as part of Badminton England’s new 2023-2033 strategy (‘Badminton – A Sport For Everyone’) was an ambition to create more opportunities to watch players play live world-class badminton domestically to inspire and engage our nation in badminton.

So Badminton England actively piloted a National Badminton League competition which ran between December 2023 and March 2024, seeking to build on the INSPIRE pillar of the strategy.

And the 2023-24 season did not disappoint as Badminton England looked to build on the foundations established previously, whilst exploring a sustainable way of creating engaging competitive and fan opportunities.

Each team competed, either home or away, against their rivals – battling across five events (Men’s & Women’s Singles, Men’s & Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles), each played to the best of 5 games to 11 points.

And following the last round of results, the winners were revealed!

Having coasted to a comfortable 5-0 win over High Wycombe Performance in the opening fixture back in December, the University of Nottingham took early advantage in the tournament.

But Team Skyfall edged to a 3-2 win away to Wimbledon Racquets and Fitness Club in their opening clash before sealing a vital 4-1 victory at home, in Milton Keynes, to their Nottinghamshire rivals in February.

The title was theirs when they just overcame the challenge of High Wycombe – winning 3-2 at home last month to top the table with an unbeaten record in 2023-24.

Congratulations to all who took part in the pilot season of this year’s National Badminton League! And well done to Team Skyfall!