The Solomon Islands National Badminton Federation completed their first Easter badminton tournament, with 23 players competing over the long weekend in early April.
Several of the participants were PE students from the Solomon Islands National University, but there were other players from surrounding districts, including Central Honiara (capital) and White River.
The tournament was conducted on the BWF Membership grant – which enabled members to access funding of up to US$5000 to implement activities to drive badminton participation.
Players competed in men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles, with Moffatt Avo and Teue Maitaki each winning a double.
“Despite it being Easter weekend, it was encouraging to see a lot of young girls and boys taking part in the tournament,” said SINBF President Thinking Ngiusanga Maitaki.
Seven umpires who officiated at the tournament had attended Badminton Oceania’s Pacific Umpire course last November.
Solomon Islands intend to continue development of badminton through implementation of Shuttle Time in schools across the capital, which will lead to another tournament for junior players (U15 and U19), planned for June 2021.
Winners:
Men’s Singles: Moffatt Avo
Women’s Singles: Teue Maitaki
Men’s Doubles: Moffatt Avo and Thinking Ngiusanga Maitaki (Team White River)
Women’s Doubles: Winner: Teue Maitaki and Helena
* Article was first published on Badminton Oceania website by Tom Leonard.
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