The Badminton Association of India hopes to make country the first choice for first-class events

According to DNA India, "The Badminton Association of India (BAI) is hoping to make the country the first choice destination of world-class events and wants to use the upcoming Asia championship here to achieve its goal."

"ndia will host the Yonex-Sunrise Badminton Asia Championship here from April 12 to 18, in which 334 players from 21 countries are set to participate. Thrice world champion Lin Dan of China and former Olympic gold winner Taufiq Hidayat of Indonesia in the men’s section, and Chinese world champion Lu Lan and Indonesian Olympic bronze winner Maria Kristin Yulianti in the women’s section, will be among those in the fray."

This is encouraging news for the badminton, because it shows that developing countries such as India, are starting to recognise and promote the sport Badminton and with a financially-growing country like India to shows its support for badminton will hopefully raise its stature and profile in the world. Badminton is already popular in several Asian and European countries, but it is always exciting and refreshing to see more countries showing ambition in the sport. Hopefully other countries will follow suit and one day Badminton will reach heights where it can finally reach the same stage as tennis when it comes to the media exposure, profile and prize money. ;)

The wonderous feeling of a broken racquet.

Racquets are precious objects and there is no doubt that there is a tingling of the nerves and a slight shudder when you clash your racquet with your doubles partner. This has already happened to be on several occasions, but thanksfully, my racquet remained unscathed.

However it seems that I am more likely to break my own racquet. As shown above, 2 of my racquets have already suffered the wrath of misfortune. A fault in the fram perhaps, maybe a hairline crack. But nothing overshadows the disappointment and depsair at a loss of a racquet. Especially when a Nanospeed 9900 costs over £100! =\

"Smash!" The Badminton Manga

Love manga? Love badminton? Well now you can combine the two by reading "Smash" a badminton manga I have discovered. It's about time there was a badminton version of "The Prince of Tennis". Boy dreams of becoming badminton world champion.....well im sure you've heard it all before. ;) Chapters are slowly being added to the site but its free to read, so what are you waiting for?! READ. :)

'Smash' can be read here: http://www.onemanga.com/Smash/

A Young Star's Fight For Fame!

As a young badminton player I’m no virgin to disappointment; two years ago I would have given up my baby maker just for national trials but somehow along the way I lost all of my enthusiasm, so much so my coach is lucky to get a good performance out of me even in a tournament.

Quoting Clive Palmer (x-England player & level 3 Performance Coach) “You have the talent of a world champion and the mentality of a 2 year old” my badminton career has had its up and its down’s. I turn up to tournaments beat the seed then lose to the guy nobody has ever heard of, get into three sets with U21 players then lose in 2 to an U13 player – Inconsistency may as well be my middle name.

Ive been playing for 4 years now and have been in the county squad for 2, 15 years young and in my first year of U17 im still doubting the probability of me ever reaching national level but tomorrow IS another day and who knows what will happen? :)

Sam(uéleta) McKune(amatata) pleading for some help,

Thank you.