Wanderers Club’s badminton sponsors break a sweat, learning how to hit the shuttlecock
In a fun turn of the tables, the sponsors of the players from Wanderers Club's badminton teams got behind the racket, trying their hands at the sport they pay for.
Sponsors of Wanderers Club badminton switched roles with players on August 23 to try their hand at the sport on the court.
Wanderers Club badminton coach Erskine du Toit said the morning aimed to showcase both the club’s talent and the nature of the sport.
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“The perception is that badminton is a slow sport played in the garden. As a club, we ultimately want to grow the sport and hope to attract more sponsors for the club and the trips that are involved within the competition.”
Du Toit added that U19 players Chloe Lai and Layla Niayesha, who are competing abroad next month, were developed from grass-roots level.
Badminton South Africa’s office manager Susan van der Mescht said it was heartwarming to welcome and work with new sponsors.
“As BSA, we’re always happy to get sponsors for our players because we’re not a sports code which makes it difficult to get sponsors.
We hope our partnership can be successful to continue growing the sport.” Van der Mescht noted that badminton was a sport for everyone from age five right up to 85, which is also good for physical health and keeping children off the streets.
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Junior national coach Dillion Schwapp said having sponsors on board was critical to growing the sport across the country.
“We don’t always have enough funding for sports, especially in badminton. Badminton used to be a big sport, which saw school and church involvement through their halls which were used as facilities.”
Schwapp added that this helped the sport grow because players who played socially at various community facilities encouraged their children to play.
He noted that the event at Wanderers Club was not only important for players to interact with the sponsors, but to also know how to communicate with them and make them understand where their investment was going or required.
All Africa’s number-one junior Chloe Lai said playing and teaching the sponsors about the game was a great experience. “It was cool to play with people who make our competition trips possible.”
Sponsors who would like to get in touch with BSA can contact Susan van der Mescht via email: office@badmintonsa.co.za.
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