THE courts at Nadi Muslim College for the inaugural Western Friendly Badminton Tournament have been abuzz with activity since it began on Friday.
But beyond the two days of competition, organisers see the tournament as the first building block towards establishing a regular inter-club competition structure for badminton in Fiji.
The tournament, which kicked off yesterday, is being organised by the Lautoka Badminton Club in partnership with the Nadi Badminton Club, with the Suva-based Sharks Club also joining the competition.
Badminton Fiji president and Sharks Club head Abel Caine said the Western Friendly tournament was the start of a bigger plan to give clubs regular competitions throughout the year.
“What’s happening is the start of what I’m trying to build will be called the inter-club tournaments,” Caine said.
Caine said the concept would take inspiration from competition structures already established in other major sports, where clubs and associations have regular tournaments to keep players competing.
“So, it’s almost like we’re just mimicking the other stronger national federations like rugby, like football, etc.,” he said.
“So, football has got the IDC, they’ve got the BOG. Those are basically club tournaments or association tournaments. And that’s what we’re trying to build as well.”
For Caine, creating more regular tournaments is also about giving players a reason to remain involved in the sport and continue training.
“It’s something that will keep them in the sport,” he said.
The Western Friendly Tournament gave players valuable court time ahead of the China Club Fiji Open during the Fiji Day weekend from October 9 to 11.
Caine expressed the hopes of the beginning of a stronger inter-club calendar, with badminton players eventually having multiple tournaments to compete in throughout the year.
The tournament ended today..
