Ballarat hosts masters badminton

LAST weekend saw more than 150 badminton players from around Australia converge on Ballarat for the Australian Masters Badminton Championships.

The event was held from Friday 21 March to Sunday 23 March at the Ken Kay Badminton Stadium in Wendouree.

Competition divisions ranged in age from 35 years and older to 65 years and older in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

“There are players from all over Australia… the first day is singles, the second day is ladies’ doubles and men’s doubles, and the third day is mixed doubles,” Ballarat Badminton Association’s Maxine Andrews said.

“This is a great stadium and for many years it’s been the best stadium in Victoria at least, possibly even the country.”

Ms Andrews took part in all three days of competition and said badminton was a great way to meet new people.

“It’s been wonderful, it’s a social sort of thing as well as competitive and the people that play are lovely people,” she said.

“We get to go away and play veterans tournaments around the state as well.”

Ms Andrews took up badminton in her 40s in the veterans’ league and said she has seen a resurgence of players following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I played Ballarat competitions since I was a veteran which at that stage, I was around 40,” she said.

“It’s not like football or rugby or something that’s very physical, it’s physical but it’s non-contact and you sort of look after yourself,” she said.

“It’s a good way to keep fit and it’s indoors, which is great for Ballarat.”