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.