Badminton: Scheme to draw new players launched in NZ

Badminton World Federation development manager Ian Wright stands with president Dr Kaang Young...
Badminton World Federation development manager Ian Wright stands with president Dr Kaang Young Joong at Wakatipu High School on Wednesday at the launch of the Shuttle Time programme in Queenstown. Photo by Olivia Caldwell.

Wakatipu High School played host to the Badminton World Federation this week as the sport's top administrators launched its newest worldwide initiative at the school.

Shuttle Time aims to build up badminton's popularity in countries that have not traditionally regarded it as a high-priority sport.

BWF chief operating officer Thomas Lund said the programme had been developed to help introduce people, mainly children, to the sport at a level they could easily grasp.

"It gives them a taste of badminton for kids to try and get some enjoyment out of it.

"The key is to get enjoyment out of it, have fun with it and then there is a likelihood they will continue."

The programme was set up in Tonga as a pilot where 1700 people picked up a racket and shuttlecock for their first attempt at the sport.

The federation planned to set up the Shuttle Time initiative in more than 40 countries before the end of next year to "help raise awareness of badminton" and with the optimistic goal of bringing badminton to every child in the world.

Development manager Ian Wright said although New Zealand's top badminton talents had taken a dip in recent years he expected the programme would help create champions, similar to its strengths of five years ago.

"New Zealand's got a tradition of badminton."

Wright said badminton could compete with the likes of rugby, cricket, football and tennis nationally.

"Boys and girls can play together. It is socially great. It is the only Olympic sport that men and women are on an even playing ground."

Tennis has followed badminton's example in allowing men and women to play against each other in the doubles at next year's London Olympics.

BWF administrators have been in Queenstown since Saturday for their conference, which is held every three years.

President Dr Kang Young Joong said there was a chance Queenstown could host one of the sport's top world tournaments in years to come.

"I want to make the sport sparkle in New Zealand.

"As long as New Zealand has the determination we'll consider various aspects and then make a decision."

 

 

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