The Vancouver Island Badminton Excellence program’s inaugural Junior B Badminton Tournament was a smashing success.
The cacophony of squeaking runners and the smashing of shuttles was quite a racket, said VIBE president Mary-Jo Randall, who helped host the event at Lansdowne middle school.
“It’s been quite a long time since this kind of event has been hosted in Victoria..”
Sixty-two youngsters ranging in age from 9 to 18 years of age, including 38 from the Greater Victoria region played in more 144 matches over nine hours.
Parents couldn't be happier as they were doing what they do best and cheered on their children, who were equally happy to be in a warm gym and out of the rain, Randall added.
The majority of the locals usually train at the Cordova Bay Community Club.
Despite standing shorter than the height of the net, the nine year olds were smashing, while some of the 18 year olds displayed the type of adult-level skill sets that lesser badminton aficionados can only dream of, Randall said.
In the end there were 61 medals handed out and 18 golden shuttles.
The youth badminton tournament season continues in Port Alberni on Feb. 4, Nanaimo March 11 and the 2016 BC Junior B Provincial Championship, May 12 to 14, in Kamloops.
The 2018 B.C. Winter Games are now just one year away, Feb. 22 to 25 in Kamloops.
editor@saanichnews.com