Development

Learning, sharing, and making new friends in the European Para badminton community
Date: 11/15/2022 3:53 PM
Published by : Joana Trindade & Justine Cammal (BEC)
For the eighth consecutive year, the BEC Para badminton event was delivered in partnership with RSL. The 2022 edition was the second time the event took place in Austria. 

During this event, four administrators from four different BEC Members learnt and discussed the main regulations and aspects for governance of Para badminton but also their own projects to develop Para badminton.  

On the courts, 15 coaches from 13 different countries followed the BWF module 13 “Coaching players with disabilities”, delivered by experienced Para badminton experts, Kaity Hall and Guillaume Gailly. Kaity Hall reflects on this event: “My expectations for these courses are always to share knowledge between coaches and to educate those that haven’t had any experience in disability badminton. It has been a great weekend!”  

The participants also had the honor of meeting and discussing with World Para badminton medallists. Guillaume Gailly, BEC assisting expert for the coaches’ course, won a bronze medal in men’s doubles in Japan (SL3-SL4), while the local champion, Henriett Koosz, won two bronze medals in the WH1 category (women’s singles and mixed doubles). Gailly shares: “I accomplished something, I am happy for me to get a good result. I was expecting a little bit more in men’s singles, but I was feeling good, and it was a really good week.”   

Tina Riedl mentions what it meant for the Austrian Badminton Association to host such an event: “We are really proud to do it, especially for the second time. Last week was very successful for Austria with the World Championships, as our player Henriett Koosz was receiving two medals and it shows how Para badminton is important for our country.”  

BEC Development and High Performance manager, Justine Cammal, is very happy with the outcome of this event: “From our side, it is always a sign of success that all participants exchange each other’s contact information and go back home with a smile and with more knowledge and ideas about to do next about Para badminton in their countries. We need to strengthen and further develop the Para badminton network in Europe, whether our Members are in the starting phase or already getting World and Paralympic medals in the sport. We can all learn from each other.”  

An important opportunity for development and networking 

This event is also an opportunity to network with other European countries on their own experiences with Para badminton development and Para badminton coaching. Chiara Tonelli, a coach from Italy learned about the different sport classes in Para badminton and believes that there is always an opportunity to evolve: “I think that in life we have to challenge ourselves every day and try to learn as much as possible from the environment, international courses, meeting people, and this is the perfect way to do it. It’s very crucial to know as much as possible about athletes to manage and deliver the best training.”
 
Ramil Hajiyev, General Secretary of the Azerbaijan Badminton Federation, took part in the Administrators’ course and shared that his country has been involved in Para badminton: “to make good and strong connections in this field, be able to provide our athletes and coaches with all the necessary equipment, apply the gained experience on our National Team's development, provide opportunities for our athletes to train with their foreign colleagues and apply for funding. Also, we hope to continue to do it within BWF’s and BEC’s frameworks and programs.”  

The General Secretary also states the importance of being active in this field: “Along with all, on behalf of Azerbaijan Badminton Federation, we do consider doing our best, to meet the requirements, to host this type of seminars, training, workshops in our rapidly growing country in the nearest future.” 
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