The effects of 8 weeks of repeated sprint training on aerobic endurance, anaerobic power, agility and explosive strength in college badminton players

Background Badminton is a physically demanding sport requiring a combination of aerobic endurance, anaerobic power, agility, and explosive strength. Repeated sprint training (RST) has emerged as a time-efficient strategy for improving physical performance, but its comprehensive effects on badminton players are not fully elucidated. Methods Twenty-eight male collegiate badminton players were randomly assigned to either a repeated sprint training group (RST; n = 14) or a high-intensity interval training group (HIIT; n = 14). In addition to regular skill-based badminton practice, the RST group performed 30-m all-out running sprints twice per week (2–3 sets of 6 × 30 m, 30 s passive recovery between sprints and 2 min active recovery between sets) over 8 weeks. The HIIT group completed standard badminton training combined with running-based high-intensity intervals prescribed around 90% HR_max. Before and after the intervention, all participants were assessed for aerobic capacity (${\dot {\rm V}}$O 2 max, v${\dot {\rm V}}$O 2 max, first and second ventilatory thresholds), anaerobic power (Wingate peak power (PP), mean power (MP), fatigue index), repeated sprint ability (6 × 30-m sprints: ideal time (IS), total time (TS), performance decrement), agility (modified T-test), and lower-limb power (countermovement and spike jumps). Results: All participants completed the study, and no significant baseline differences were found between groups ( p > 0.121). Significant main effects of time and group × time interactions were observed for ${\dot {\rm V}}$O 2 max, v${\dot {\rm V}}$O 2 max, VT 1 , PP, MP, modified agility T-test, and spike jump height. The RST group showed greater post-intervention improvements in these variables than the HIIT group (all p ≤ 0.002), whereas the HIIT group demonstrated significant but smaller gains in ${\dot {\rm V}}$O 2 max, v${\dot {\rm V}}$O 2 max, VT 1 , PP, and spike jump height ( p < 0.05). Significant time effects were also found for IS, TS, VT 2 , and countermovement jump height, with both groups improving after training (all p < 0.05), particularly in the RST group. Conclusion: An 8-week, twice-weekly 30-m RST program added to standard badminton training proved effective for concurrently improving aerobic capacity, anaerobic power, repeated sprint ability, agility, and lower limb explosive power in collegiate male badminton players. These findings suggest that this specific RST protocol is a potent and time-efficient training modality for enhancing the multifaceted physical fitness required for badminton performance.