WORLD MASTERS GAMES

WORLD MASTERS GAMES - 15 Again

The 2009 World Masters Games are being held in Sydney, Australia, this week. While Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark has been racing across Sydney harbour as part of these games, half way across town a former badminton men’s singles world #1 was competing in doubles along with 800 other players. Let's take a closer look at the badminton at this multi-sport event and what it can teach us.

Story and photos: Aaron Wong

FOREVER YOUNG

In fact, the high profile players here are not the ones with the greatest achievements. There are players from Germany, Japan, UK and the USA born in the 1920s playing their hearts out. They are accomplishing at a level even World, All England, and Olympic Champion Lin Dan cannot guarantee he will be able to attain, which is battling for a badminton medal at age 70 to above 80 years old.

Players across all disciplines initially competed in a round robin format which makes the long trip to this far end of the earth worthwhile.

MOTIVATION

“What made me choose singles?”

“I had heart surgery 6 months and again 6 weeks ago, and I’m still here. So why not?” declared a very satisfied Larry Speed from Canada after his 75+ men’s singles match.

He smiled wryly, knowing that the physical quality his surname speaks of eluded him occasionally. “Strategy is what’s important,” he added.

On display all week has been a classic style of play with a majority of high lobs and more forehand serves than you can poke a stick at. Even Harijanto Arbi, an Indonesian who was world #1 in 1995, gave neither a single backhand nor a short service in his opening singles match. It is quite unrecognisable to the modern game, where backhand short serves and dominating the net are the norm.

15 AGAIN

Amusingly enough, this tournament also sees a return to scoring 15 points per game - but with a 21st century twist. When everyone competing here learnt the game of badminton, points could only earned upon serve and games were up to 15 points whereas now any side can win a point and the standard is 21 points per game, The Badminton World Federation (BWF) modified the scoring system from 21 to 15 rally points for this tournament due to the sheer number of entries and to suit the age demographic focus here.

AUSTRALIANS

In one of the British sports where Australia is not better at than the mother country (i.e. unlike cricket, tennis, or rugby), Australians have made up for it with enthusiasm.

Especially for a minor sport that receives little local media attention and government sponsorship, a small army of locals have banded together, volunteering their time to ensure it runs on schedule with enough umpires to judge games simultaneously happening across 20 courts.

Local players also made up the majority of entries which surprised and pleased Rosiana Tendean, a 5-time Indonesia Open winner. She and Harijanto Arbi both said they enjoyed visiting Australia and aimed to help keep the sport popular.

For complete badminton results from the 2009 World Masters Game, please CLICK HERE

To read the earlier Badzine newsflash on the Masters Games, click HERE

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