Ballarat Badminton smashing it for 2021

ENCOURAGING short, sharp on-court movements, badminton is not only a speedy racket sport but a solid cardio workout for people of all ages.

Ken Kay Badminton Stadium is the city’s hub for the activity, run by the Ballarat Badminton Association.

This week, the venue will reopen fully and secretary Sandy David said the 2021 diary is already looking big.

“From Wednesday, 27 January we are resuming our normal hours, and our junior comp and junior training,” she said.

“On Mondays we have rotating doubles, Tuesday mornings we have our mid-week ladies competition, and Tuesday nights we have our A-grade pennant. Wednesday night is our veterans’ comp.

“We offer curling on Wednesday at 2pm and pickleball on a Thursday morning at 11am.”

Also the chair of the Australian Technical Officials Committee, Ms David developed her passion for badminton when her children began playing 20 years ago.

“There are so many advantages. It’s an all-weather sport indoors out of the cold or heat, there’s plenty of room, and you can get fit because badminton is one of the best cardio workouts,” she said.

“But the friendships created end up being what people play for. My kids have played a lot of state tournaments and they’ve got friends from all over Victoria and Australia.”

A two-day Victorian junior selection event will be held at the stadium at the end of March, which usually attracts about 120 young people from the Melbourne area.

In late-April the annual Veterans Tournament will draw over 400 players from all over the state and South Australia.

“In November, we have our Ballarat Open, which is a senior Victorian selection event, and we’re also going to run a senior country teams event for the first time ever,” Ms David said.

Indoor bowls is also catered for at Ken Kay, with the Australian Indoor Bowls Championships approaching in August.

The Ken Kay Ballarat Badminton Stadium is open 2pm to 9pm, Monday to Thursday, but if user groups are keen to have a hit at other times, the Association can make it available.

Probus clubs, the Heartbeat Walking Group and McCallum Disability Services are examples of recent user groups.