MAHATMA Gandhi Memorial Primary School is making its mark at the inaugural Fiji Primary Schools Badminton Tournament, giving its young players their first opportunity to experience competitive badminton at this level.
The three-day tournament began yesterday and continues until tomorrow at the FMF Gymnasium, with MGM fielding eight boys and six girls.
Team manager Emi Naiteitei said the main focus is to expose the children to competition while helping them develop their skills and confidence.
“First of all, it’s the competition itself. I wanted the children to have a feel of what badminton is, and at the moment they are doing very well,” Naiteitei said.
The historic nature of the tournament has brought excitement to the MGM players, although Naiteitei said some were nervous when they first arrived at the gymnasium.
She encouraged them to stay positive, work hard and keep pushing through their matches.
MGM has set its sights on reaching the quarterfinals, with hopes of progressing further into the semifinals.
However, Naiteitei believes the tournament is about more than results, with the school looking to build a foundation for the players’ future in badminton.
MGM did not participate in the high school badminton tournament earlier this year, but Naiteitei said the school plans to continue training its players after this tournament.
“We will continue with our training to prepare them for the next game, come next year,” she said.
For Naiteitei, that continued training is important in developing the players at grassroots level and potentially preparing them for badminton when they reach secondary school.
She also acknowledged the support of parents, fellow team manager Krishnil Kumar and head of school Mrs Lal in helping the team prepare for the historic competition.
For MGM, the tournament represents an important first step in introducing its young players to competitive badminton and building their confidence for the future.
