Fresh off the success of its inaugural season, the Shuttlestars Badminton Power League is set for a major leap forward, with convener Dillan Schaap announcing the competition’s expansion onto the national stage.

The revamped league will now feature teams from across the country, with four sides based in Durban and four more representing Cape Town, in addition to the four Gauteng franchises, marking a significant milestone in the growth and reach of South African badminton.

“The Badminton Power League represents a new era for the sport – combining professional league structures, regional pride, and innovative formats to grow badminton and improve club competitiveness across Africa,” Schaap said.

The Lion Legends were crowned the inaugural winners of the league, while the Viper Smashes B team clinched the B league title.

The Gauteng teams – Lion Legends, Viper Smashes, Royal Falcons and Shadow Wolves – remain unchanged.
The new franchises are Super Sharks, Golden Hornets, Gorilla Giants and Raging Bulls from Durban, while Cape Town will field the Cobra Kings, Cape Stallions, Thunder Hawks and Panther Predators.

Schaap, the Badminton SA junior national coach, explained that each franchise will field A, B and C teams, as well as reserves, allowing for over 150 players to participate in a structured pathway that promotes both team success and individual player development.

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“The league will be run as a home-and-away season, with fixtures taking place once per month over six match-days. Each fixture pairs a franchise club with another across all team levels, ensuring consistent competition throughout the season.

“Matches follow a standardised tie format that includes singles, doubles, mixed doubles and an innovative relay-style singles match, introduced to enhance excitement and competitive balance.

“Teams earn league points based on results, with additional incentives for key match wins ensuring a dynamic and competitive league table throughout the season.”

According to Schaap, they will also introduce a mid-season cup competition, with another end-of-season super league for the top-tier teams in their planning.

“In addition to the main league season, the Badminton Power League will introduce a mid-season relay cup, bringing together teams from all regions in a high-intensity tournament format, with further plans for an end-of-season Super League featuring top regional performers.”

The league will begin in March.

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