READY TO LAUNCH: Tamworth Regional Council’s sports venues program officer Melissa Daintry, left, and Sports Dome manager Peter Dale trying their hand at badminton ahead of a new comp starting at the dome in the coming weeks. Photo: Geoff O’Neill 130313GOB01
SOON shuttlecocks, and not the usual basketballs, will be soaring across the courts of the Tamworth Sports Dome.
Two of the city’s keenest badminton enthusiasts, Jing-Xin Cai and Edward Or, have worked hard with the dome staff in recent months to kick-start a competition in the city.
Until being in the position to set up their own comp, Jing-Xin and Edward, travelled to Armidale to participate in competitions there.
The Sports Dome now has its own comp from 5pm ’til 7pm on Saturdays.
Council’s sports venues program officer Melissa Daintry said for some time there had interest in getting the competition up and running.
“After sourcing the necessary equipment direct from China and with three synthetic courts marked up and ready to go we have been able to get it started,” she said.
“Players who have been travelling to Armidale can now get a game closer to home.”
Apart from the Saturday competition, the Sports Dome’s badminton courts can be booked for social games on Tuesday nights.
Mrs Daintry said she was hopeful that in the future there would be interest from school groups in trying out badminton too.
Next month volleyball will also be introduced at the courts.
A proposal is being considered for a weekly competition, affiliated with Volleyball NSW, for secondary school students and adults.
Junior secondary teams for students in Years 7, 8 and 9 would will run on Monday afternoons and senior secondary teams will play on Tuesday afternoons.
Mrs Daintry said a social competition for men’s, women’s and mixed teams has been proposed for Friday nights.
“In the next few weeks we would like to hear from players wanting to play badminton or volleyball, as both competitions will formally start next term,” she said.