A game which showcases speed, reflexes, athleticism and supreme fitness.
Badminton Australia supports The Clubbies – Inside Sport’s grassroots sports awards.
BADMINTON: A SNAPSHOT
For many Australians, badminton is a sport that finds its way into their consciousness just once every two years or so; at an Olympics or Commonwealth Games. And what viewer isn’t captivated by the extraordinary speed, reflexes, athleticism and supreme fitness of the sport’s leading exponents?
Some will wonder why they have never played the sport at a competition level. Perhaps they’ve played a bit of tennis or squash? Maybe they had a backyard set when they were kids. So why didn’t they ever get around to having a genuine game?
Here is the news: a thriving club scene exists across the length and breadth of Australia – with membership well and truly open to anyone! The badminton community reckons they are on to one of the best-kept secrets in sport. Weather is no issue, they can play night or day, it’s a whole lot of fun for all ages, it requires no particularly specialised equipment, it’s safe, and its members are extremely welcoming. That’s because they don’t want to keep their sport secret!
There are a total of 228 active badminton clubs in Australia, with over 11,000 players who regularly enjoy this thrilling game. For those who rise to the elite level, there is far more to it than those quadrennial tournaments. At senior level, there are also regular state and national championship tournaments which lead on to World and Oceania Championships, while elite Juniors get to play regular age-group state and national championships, Oceania Team Championships, Pan Pacific Team Championships, Youth Commonwealth and Olympic Games and World Juniors.
The game was first played in Australia in 1900, with the Australian Badminton Association formed in 1935. Anna Lao and Rhonda Cator were Australia’s first Olympic badminton representatives, in Barcelona 1992. Lao made it through to the quarter-finals in the women’s singles and, with Cator, finished in the same position in the women’s doubles. Australia has been represented at each Games since then; in London, our women’s doubles pairing of Renuga Veeran and Leanne Choo also made the quarter-finals as well. Not bad!
Who will be Australia’s first badminton medallist? Maybe you?
To find a club near you, go to: www.badminton.org.au
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