New lights and lines have been installed in the city’s badminton hall, as it prepares to host a marquee event.
The New Zealand national masters championships run from tomorrow until until Saturday.
They have attracted 111 players and will involve 288 matches over the three days.
Five different events with eight age-groups each mean 40 titles are up for grabs.
In preparation the centre has undergone an upgrade, replacing its lights with new LEDs, a project which cost about $15,000.
New tape lines, which are clearer than the old painted ones, have also been put down., Both will make a difference when it comes to playing.‘‘It’s around efficiencies with the LEDs,’’ Badminton Otago chairman Nathan Pitcher said.
"We used to have fluorescent tubes which weren’t as bright as the lighting in here now. I think it’s increased probably 30% visibility with that.
"The lines are new. They haven’t been done for some time — a bit of maintenance on the place, which is good."
The tournament had been boosted by the flow-on effect of the World Masters Games earlier this year when several entrants performed well.
That includes Delwyn Cooper, Kerrin Harrison, Lia Mapa, Angus Husin, Val Cleaver and Cheryl Lawrence, who all claimed gold medals, as well as other quality medallists such as Alfred Wong.
With those names among the field, Pitcher is expecting a high-level competition.
"Competition will be incredibly intense and fearlessly contested.
"There will be some very good badminton played, a very high standard of badminton that probably hasn’t been seen in Dunedin for a while."
The championships were held every year, although most years they were hosted in the North Island.
They had not been in Dunedin for a long time and Pitcher said the local community was excited.
"It’s a bit of a feather in our cap for hosting it and also the support we’ve had behind it, with the volunteers and the maintenance work we’ve put in to get it across the line."
Singles action starts at 1pm tomorrow, and the doubles on Friday from 8am until 6.30pm.
The championships conclude with the mixed doubles on Saturday, from 8am-5pm, before a function at Larnach’s Castle.
Admission is free.
