Following on the heels of Squash and Volleyball, which commenced late last year, The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA), with the help of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the National Sports Commission (NSC), has launched the Nursery aspect of their Sport Academy Programme.
The Nursery is set up to introduce and teach new players the basics of the game before moving on to a more advanced level.
Speaking at the launch, which was held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Homestretch Avenue on Monday afternoon, Director of Sports (DoS) Steve Ninvalle highlighted their commitment to develop sports.
“Let me say that Badminton is the third sport discipline to start their nursery. The nursery is one of the most important components of sports disciplines. This is where we can mould and guide and nurture you, so this is a very important aspect.”
Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. addressing members of the Badminton nursery
Ninvalle went on to add, “The NSC, and by extension the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, has stood true to their word that this will not be a talk shop, this is something that we will see to the end,”
Drawing a parallel to Guyana’s school system including nursery, primary, and tertiary levels, and that of the Sport Academy was Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr, who revealed the measures in place to ensure that the programme grows.
“You’ll have, from the personnel standpoint, The Ministry is going to be providing the payment for your coach, and then you’re also going to have one of the Sports organizers that’s employed at the National Sports Commission, they’re also going to be dedicated towards assisting you,” The Sport Minister enlightened.
He added, “We’re going to be monitoring what’s happening here very rigidly, to see how its unfolding and how it’s can get the type of support so it expands. You are the early starters of the programme, this is going to go into a lot more young people like yourselves, and it’s also going to expand into other regions.”
According to the GBA, the new players will be under the tutelage of coaches Akili Haynes, Jonathan Mangra and Emelia Ramdhani. Meanwhile, GBA Vice President Ayanna Watson thanked the relevant bodies for starting the initiative.
“It is something that you know we’ve been looking forward to. We like discipline, we’re a disciplined sport, we like structure, and we’re looking forward to what this can do for our players, players of the entire Guyana, as well as what it can do to enhance the confidence of our students,” Watson shared in extending her gratitude.
The Badminton nursery sessions will reportedly be hosted at the Queen’s College Auditorium and Sports Hall.
