AUSTRALIA\u2019S best young badminton players are serving and smashing in Ballarat this week as the Yonex Under-13\/Under-17 National Team and Individual Championships take place at Ken Kay Stadium.<\/p>\n
Badminton Australia and Ballarat Badminton Association are hosting the major sporting event which is seeing 250 athletes and about 250 supporting officials and spectators in Wendouree.<\/p>\n
Thirteen-year-old Victorian team player Tandi Mushini\u2019s team competed in division two between Monday and Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe won all our matches, except one against another Victorian club,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s been pretty tough competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve enjoyed hanging out with everyone, gaining experience, watching others play, and trying our best.\u201d<\/p>\n
CEO of Badminton Australia Tjitte Weistra said the atmosphere throughout the week has been exciting, and the tournament is running smoothly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s actually the first time the under-13 national championships have been held, and it\u2019s been great,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese athletes are the top in Australia, and there\u2019s fantastic local badminton community spirit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been very fortunate with the support of the City of Ballarat, the State Government, and Yonex, our sponsor, because it is a major event, and there\u2019s a huge amount of work and resources going into delivering it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballarat Badminton Association will host the event for a third and final year in 2024, and manager Rhonda Cator said she hopes the tournament will inspire local kids to continue with the sport, or to pick up a racquet for the first time.<\/p>\n
She said the association\u2019s members value the solid partnership they have with Badminton Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fantastic, they\u2019re very professional at what they do, have clear guidelines and expectations, and that\u2019s good for us as an organisation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Ken Kay Stadium is the biggest regional Victorian badminton venue, and Mr Weistra said it\u2019s ideal for the size of this year\u2019s Under-13\/Under-17 National Team and Individual Championships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AUSTRALIA\u2019S best young badminton players are serving and smashing in Ballarat this week as the Yonex Under-13\/Under-17 National Team and Individual Championships take place at Ken Kay Stadium. Badminton Australia and Ballarat Badminton Association are hosting the major sporting event which is seeing 250 athletes and about 250 supporting officials and spectators in Wendouree. Thirteen-year-old […]<\/p>\n