…COVID-19 pandemic has set back progress – Executives
The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA), like its numerous counterparts in Guyana, is disenchanted with the way the coronavirus pandemic has shifted the year’s proceedings regarding sport. This was communicated through a missive from President Gokarn Ramdhani, who highlighted the association’s disappointment with the inability of players to be active on the court.
The Guyana Badminton Association Executive (Missing is Ryan Chang)
“While they continue to stay fit and watching videos, it’s still a setback as, without the court play, their training towards improving is at a standstill,” Ramdhani wrote.
He added, “It comes at a time when they were all getting better towards a higher competitive level.”
More specifically, the GBA President shared that the Association’s executives are dissatisfied because they have been unable to offer representation on the international stage. In light of the progress that has been made over the years, their inability to attend various high-level competitions this year is being seen as a setback.
Flashback: The last local badminton tournament to be staged was the National Junior and Senior Championships in 2020
“In the last 10 years, we medaled at many international championships (Caribbean Regional & International Championships, South American Games, Pan Am Championships, Peru International and IGG Games). Our players also qualified for the Pan Am Games, Commonwealth Games, South American Games and CAC Games. We were doing so well getting there, and it’s like our progress was just cut out from under us due to the pandemic,” Ramdhani lamented.
Nevertheless, the GBA is making all strides to ensure that the players remain in optimum shape.
“We however hope to stay at the competitive level with more consistent Badminton awareness, until we can get all our programmes started back again,” the GBA has said.
On a more positive note, the GBA is looking to roll out two programmes that would benefit the local players in staying fit and competitive and attracting more players to the sport.
“When this is possible, we have outlined our Shuttle Time Basic Badminton to be introduced in schools. This, basically, will involve Physical Education teachers and students to get the knowledge of the game,” the GBA has disclosed.
The second project is one that was laid out by World Badminton to encourage outdoor play in an effort to avoid large numbers indoors, in keeping with COVID-19 guidelines.
“The other programme planned and implemented by World Badminton is the New Outdoor Game which we plan to launch in the rural areas and most regions, as it can be easily demonstrated and also easily set up outdoors. There is a special Shuttlecock designed that can withstand the wind,” the GBA shared.
They went on to explain that the equipment for this activity will be supplied by their Association in order to make it more accessible.
The GBA stated, “These projects the GBA will supply all the rackets and shuttlecocks with the help of Pan Am Badminton and also World Badminton.
The GBA, in their missive, went on to extend gratitude to the executives of their association for continuing to maintain a positive outlook and motivation of badminton, and in addition, for their role in continuing to keep active for the benefit of the local players.
