Scaled down badminton showcased

Scaled down badminton showcased

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The two schoolchildren, both aged 10, were the center of
attention at Amongrogo sports hall.

As they darted around a reduced dimension court, including a
lower net and child-friendly rackets, they were cheered on by
spectators who had shown up early for the final of the National
Mixed Team Championship.

They hit some accurate strokes, no doubt helped by the lighter
shuttlecock, in the version its inventor Ivana Lie calls
"Badmini".

Kenas Adi Ardianto from Djarum Kudus badminton club won the
first game 11-4 over Putra Eka Roman from Jaya Raya Jakarta. The
second game was not completed as the championship final was due
to begin.

When asked about their preference of courts, the youngsters
concurred that they would still choose the regular one over its
mini version.

"On normal courts, I have more room to run. I also like the
adult-size rackets," Putra said.

It was not the answer sought by Ivana, a top singles player of
the 1980s who looks forward to popularizing the modified version
for under 12s nationwide -- in the hope of finding a new talent
-- before taking it international.

She said she understood the children's initial indifference.

"They have yet to adapt themselves to the new play. Thay had
only two days of trials before the exhibition," she told The
Jakarta Post.

Saturday was the first public showcase of the game, although
Ivana has tested it among students at her badminton school in
Bandung. She plans a tour of 10 cities nationwide to introduce
the game to the public, and a national tournament is expected to
be held at the end of this year.

A worldwide campaign beginning in 2006 is also in the works.

"We are expecting support from the International Badminton
Federation for a tour in five continents next year," Ivana said
during her presentation at the national meeting of the Badminton
Association of Indonesia (PBSI).

Representatives from 24 of 30 provincial chapters attended the
one-day meeting at Sahid Raya Hotel.

"We need support from PBSI and its provincial chapters in
disseminating information about Badmini. I'm sure it can be an
ideal way to developing badminton in the early stages with a view
to regaining our international supremacy in badminton," she said.