Cairns Badminton Club expects Rio-led revolution for fastest racquet sport

The Cairns Badminton Club provides opportunity for residents of Cairns and the surrounding areas to play the sport on a daily basis.

The Cairns Badminton Club plays at Cairns City Cairns Youth and Recreation Centre three to four times and week and president John Spannenburg says it is an exciting sport.

“We would usually get around 30 people to every session with sometimes more than 40 players there,” Spannenburg said.

“We do not have a an organised competition as such, we have social play as doubles.

“Later on in the night, we will have singles play but it is mostly doubles because of the numbers.

“In saying it is social, it is still very competitive.

“Let’s just say this, people are usually drenched in sweat by the end of the night playing badminton.

“If you are playing properly, you want to win and go for it.”

Spannenburg said he was looking forward to watching the Australian team at the upcoming Olympics.

Badminton has been an Olympic sport since 1992 and three men and two women were announced in the badminton section of the Australian Olympic Team takes to the court at the Rio 2016 Games.

The five, Robin Middleton, Matthew Chau, Sawan Serasinghe, Leanne Choo, Hsuan Yu Wendy Chen, are set to mix it with the best 172 players in the world when the competition commences on August 11.

Australia has qualified players in the mixed doubles, men’s doubles and women’s singles and the team boasts an even mix of experience and fresh talent.

As the reigning Oceania Champion, Chen will look to impress at the Rio Games in the 32 player competition.

The badminton competition at the Rio 2016 Games commences on August 11 (Day 6) and will run through to August 20 (Day 15).

National head coach Lasse Bundgaard is confident that this crop of badminton players are the best athletes to don the green and gold on the Olympic stage.

“Badminton has a strong and talented Team for Rio and I know that these five athletes will represent Australia in the best possible way,” Bundgaard said.

“Rio will be a fantastic opportunity to show that Australian badminton has come a long way and that we are capable of competing against the top badminton nations.”

Jacob Grams gives it a go:

I’ve always been a little uncoordinated so I expected no different when I stepped on to the badminton court at Cairns Youth and Recreation Centre.

So it was no surprise I had my fair share of airswings during a 10-minute hitout, making a fool of myself in the process, arms and legs everywhere.

But I would give myself a pass mark, at least for clearing the net, though my backhand was a little shaky, as was the case when I had a weekly hit of tennis.

I got a not-too-serious vibe from the Cairns Badminton Club so I’m sure that helped me settle, just keeping those competitive juices in check.

The best part was being able to smash the shuttlecock just about as hard as you like and have it float well inside the bounds of the court. I can imagine the elite players would need to keep pretty fit to maintain a rally. I don’t think it’s as therapeutic for them as it was for me.

Where to play

Who: Cairns Badminton Club

Where: Cairns Youth and Recreation Centre, 129 Mulgrave Road, Parramatta Park.

When: Tuesday from 7.30pm — 10.30pm

Friday from 7.30pm — 10.30pm

Sunday from 10.00am to 12.00 noon