tawandamusarurwa
Arthur Choga
Will host the All-Africa Schools Badminton Championships later this year, and two questions spring to mind.
The first question many will ask is: What is badminton?
The second, and most likely to follow, is: Do we have enough badminton to go around and actually host a continental event?
The first question can be answered through the story of a Sri Lankan maths teacher, a boy who hated maths and the unlikely love affair that eventually grew with a sport that was introduced by the teacher.
And the answer to the second question is: Yes, we do.
We actually have a national association called the Badminton Association of Zimbabwe.
Back in high school, I did not like sport that much but did not mind competing.
I just did not enjoy training.
That, however, changed one afternoon when I wandered into the school hall and found Mr Embogama, a Sri Lankan maths teacher whom I did not like much, supervising the drawing of lines on the pristine wooden floor of the school hall.
The lines were bold yellow, and something like a tennis court was beginning to take shape.
Mr Embogama had been my maths teacher in Form 2.
Aside from the fact that I could hardly understand what he said, the way he taught the subject was way different from what I was accustomed to.
So, while the math heads extolled him as a genius, I disliked the 40-minute sessions in his class with a passion.
Only the fear of a meeting with our well-loved-but-much-feared headmaster kept me in the room.
I, therefore, celebrated when he was replaced as our teacher at the end of that year.
So, during my stroll, I just wanted to pass by, but the little racquets and funny-shaped little thing with feathers in it caught my attention.
This was the beginning of my badminton journey.
I fell in love with the sport.
Badminton is a racquet sport related to tennis and squash.
It is less strenuous than tennis and is way less macho than squash.
It is played on a court, smaller than that for tennis, but quite similarly marked.
It can be played by single players or as a doubles team.
The small racquets are beautiful to look at and very light.
It is played with an interesting piece of equipment called a shuttle.
The shuttle is a semi-spherical object with a crown of feathers or plastic material.
This allows it to move quite gracefully through the air and makes for some amazing trick shots.
Struck with the right amount of accuracy and strength, the shuttle can really whizz along and sting a bit if it makes bodily contact.
Badminton is a splendid game for any keep-fit fan who is not ready for the rigours of tennis, or who wants to play a cerebral game, where placement and shot selection are a major part in winning games.
The sport has grown organically, especially in schools.
Perhaps, that is why it is fitting that the country will host the schools championships.
The Badminton Association of Zimbabwe is headed by Chipo Zumburani.
She says hosting the continental event gives the sport a chance to generate greater visibility.
The global badminton governing body has introduced a scheme called Shuttle Time, which is aimed at generating interest in the sport, particularly in schools.
It was launched in December 2011.
In essence, it is an innovative training programme designed to assist teachers and coaches in the delivery of “safe” and “fun” badminton lessons to children aged between five and 15 years.
Badminton, as a sport, is structured such that boys and girls, men and women play and compete together at all levels, hence, its inclusiveness.
Overall, the programme has been designed to accommodate all children in schools.
They are able to enjoy the sport in a safe manner.
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