Sri Lanka Badminton, in association with its Provincial and District Badminton Development Committees will commence its first program named Gamin Ratata Badminton or “from Village to Country” concept at the Dharmasoka Indoor Stadium in Ambalangoda on December 14 and 15.
“The program is meant to promote badminton from the grass root level to find the best talent from juvenile stage which the Association considers is a must to improve the standard and conducted island-wide starting from district and provincial level,” said the Vice President of the Sri Lanka Schools Badminton Association at a press briefing in Colombo on Thursday.
The program is being conducted under the International Shuttle Time Badminton Program mooted by the BWF and implemented by Badminton Asia and the aim is to take the sport to the hinterland of each country to make it popular.
During the first stage which will be conducted in Galle, 54 selected schools in the district will benefit which is mainly aimed at supplying the basic knowledge and providing equipment to schools to propagate and promote badminton in the provinces. Teachers too will benefit and in turn will pass on their knowledge to the young players in their respective schools.
Each school will receive six rackets, three shuttles corks and other equipment needed to start at these under-privileged schools.
Talented youngsters will be selected for further training under the guidance of highly qualified coaches to enhance their standards to national level.
All participants will be awarded with certificates which will benefit them for making a career in the sport. The SLB and P&D Committee will monitor their progress and organize competitions to motivate them.
SLB President Rohan de Silva said that he greatly welcomes this initiative that is spearheaded by Past President and current Vice President Roshan Gunawardena while stating that “the future of badminton is firmly embedded in the project.