Identifying and prioritizing selection indicators for elite women's badminton singles players: An analytic hierarchy process approach based on Delphi findings

Selecting elite youth athletes requires evaluating their current performance and future potential. In badminton, performance determinants differ according to event type and sex, making it essential to establish systematic evidence-based selection criteria. This study aimed to prioritize selection indicators for elite women's single badminton players using expert consensus through Analytic Hierarchy Process. Thirteen badminton experts participated in an Analytic Hierarchy Process survey to assess the relative importance of the indicators across three hierarchical levels. At the primary level, Anthropometric factors (0.58) ranked higher than Motor-performance factors (0.42). At the secondary level, Body Composition (0.47) was the highest within Anthropometric factors, whereas Physical strength (0.76) ranked highest in Motor-performance factors. At the tertiary level, Skeletal muscle mass (0.40), Thigh circumference (0.36), and Height (0.42) were prioritized for Anthropometric factors, whereas Agility (0.28) and Visual ability (0.63) were prioritized for Motor-performance factors. These findings provide objective, prioritized criteria for evaluating and selecting elite women's single players, supporting a more transparent and tailored identification process. This approach may serve as a foundation for developing selection systems that reflect event- and sex-specific demands in badminton.