SBA announces new academy in partnership with ActiveSG

by Circle Stories, on May 28, 2017

 

SBA academy

The Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) has launched the SBA Badminton Academy @ ActiveSG at Pasir Ris Sports Centre.

 

The Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) launched the SBA Badminton Academy @ ActiveSG at Pasir Ris Sports Centre on Saturday, and youths can start learning how to play badminton there as soon as 3 June.


The academy will be headed by former national shuttler and Olympian Jiang Yanmei, and will be staffed by several former national players including Wayne Kuo and Shinta Mulia Sari.


The Saturday morning launch was graced by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng.

“Badminton is one of the most popular sports in Singapore,” he said.

“The new SBA Badminton Academy will create opportunities for more young Singaporeans from diverse backgrounds to enjoy the sport.” 


The creation of a badminton academy not only benefits youths around the country, but also former national players who have come to the end of their competitive career.

“They can become coaches and mentors to groom the next generation of badminton players, but also as role models to build character and resilience in sports,” he said. 

SBA academy

Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng (third from left), Member of Parliament Lee Yi Shyan (third from right), Sport Singapore Chairman Richard Seow (second from left) and Sport Singapore CEO Lim Teck Yin (first from left) during the launch of the SBA Badminton Academy @ ActiveSG. Photo: Sport Singapore 



“It’s not just about playing good sport, but also what are the values in good sportsmanship. And this is what we hope to develop; the soft skills and life skills in the next generation.”

Previously a private coach that runs his own programmes, current SBA Badminton Academy head coach Mr Wayne Kuo said: “I believe the new academy will create a heightened interest in the sport, leading to more people playing this sport and a bigger market for both the SBA Badminton Academy and other private academies. The training provided by the SBA Badminton Academy to upgrade myself will also help make my programmes better. In the long run, I see a win-win situation for local badminton fraternity, with everyone working together for the interest of the sport.

The launch on Saturday also saw 140 shuttlers complete a record-breaking badminton rally with the most number of participants, as well as the longest badminton rally with 1140 consecutive shots.