Ntuthuko Maphumulo badminton
For the first time in South Africa or Africa a badminton tournament of world
importance will be staged on the continent. South Africa will be hosting the
sixth world junior championships in November next year.
About 30 countries will participate in the tournament, which will determine the
world rankings. African Badminton Federation president Hiranmay Ray said: _It
was a scoop to get the tournament in Africa and it will show the world that Africa is able to host an international tournament of this great magnitude._
Badminton is one of the fastest-growing sports in South Africa and has a policy
that ensures there is development at grass-roots level.
The decision to award South Africa the world junior championship was sparked by
a successful world academy held in Cape Town last year and also because of the
infrastructure and facilities available here.
Another reason was that the International Badminton Federation is keen to move
its world events around the world. It has already staged the tournament in Asia,
Europe and Australia.
At last year_s world junior championship in Japan South Africa was ranked 24 out
of 25 countries.
The current South African junior champion for boys is Chris Dednam and for girls
Lydia Uys. In doubles, the boys champions are Dednam and Eugene Uys and the girls doubles team is Janine Brady and Karen Campion. Dednam and Christina English are the junior mixed doubles champions.
Badminton South Africa president Larry Keys says the junior championships will
lay the foundation for future players in the country. _The championships offer
an excellent opportunity to showcase the sport to South Africans and will offer
support to schools to gain access to the championships.
_This will give the country badminton infrastructure and a first-class opportunity for aspirant players to watch, and learn from the world_s best junior players._
National Olympic Committee of South Africa head Sam Ramsamy hopes badminton will
be part of the Olympic team for Athens in 2004. Neil Cameron, chief executive of the International Badminton Federation, said the sport was introduced to the
Olympics in 1992.
South African junior players will prepare for the world championships at the
African championships, which will be held in August this year in Zambia.
In 1999 South Africa came second to Mauritius in the championships.
China are the current senior and junior world champions.