Schools badminton starts today

The 29th edition of the annual three-day Badminton Fiji Secondary Schools tournament will host 18 schools at the FMF Gymnasium and Yat Sen School Hall in Suva from today.

Speaking to SUNsports yesterday, Badminton Fiji (BF) President Abel Caine said 162 students have registered and 52 per cent of them are females.

“Yat Sen School are the defending champions in the team and individual competitions,” he said.

“Yat Sen will be defending the title for the sixth year in a row.”

Caine added that the tournament has two competitions, which are school teams and individual.

“Sangam Sadhu Kuppuswamy Memorial College (SSKMC), Fiji Agape Mission School and Gospel High School will be participating for the first time,” he said.

“Natabua High School returns to the tournament since 2018. They have won the tournament for 10 years in a row from 2009 to 2018.”

Nehru Memorial Primary School and Yat Sen Primary School will also be part of the tournament.

“The primary schools’ competition is played with age grades, and it is the Under-13,” he said.

“So many Year 8 students are over the age of 13 so they can’t take part in the individual competitions for U13 schools’ tournament.”

Badminton Fiji has made an exception to allow these primary school players to participate in the secondary school’s tournament.

“Our secondary schools’ tournament is for the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-17 plus. They are not taking part in teams; they are taking part in individuals Under-15.”

Lekutu Secondary School from Bua will take part in the tournament for the second time.

“In January, there were weekly training sessions in Suva at the Vodafone Arena for schools while the Western schools began their weekly sessions at Nadi Muslim College in February.

“We have received excellent sponsorship from Damodar Cinemas as well as the Hana Hafua Rotuman Children’s Foundation.”

Caine also acknowledged Kelsey Iqbal Jannif Foundation for their support.

Today– FMF Gymnasium in Suva May 28 - Entry (Free of Charge);

Friday and Saturday– Yat Sen School in Suva (Entry $2)