Tunisia Hosts Inaugural African Air Badminton Championships as Olympic Day Celebrations Commence.
Hammamet, Tunisia – As the world Olympic Day celebrations continue all around the globe, African badminton is set to enter a new era as Air Badminton Championships makes its debut in the upcoming African Beach Games. Set to be held in Hammamet, Tunisia from June 27th to 30th 2023. This inaugural championship will serve as the qualifiers for the World Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia, which are scheduled to take place between July 6th and August 9th, 2023. Air Badminton, was one of the four new sports included in the second edition of the World Beach Games, it will feature four events: Men’s Triples, Women’s Triples, Mixed Doubles, and the Mixed Team Relay.
The African Qualifiers, at the picturesque Hammamet beach, will witness the participation of eight nations: Algeria, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and the host country Tunisia. This event will be a significant opportunity for these nations to demonstrate their talent and secure a place in the prestigious World Beach Games.
President of the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA), in an interview with BCA TV, expressed his excitement about the growth of Air Badminton in Africa since its introduction in 2019. He highlighted the versatility of the sport, which can be played on various surfaces such as hard ground, grass, or sand. All member associations across the continent have embraced the game, making the African Beach Games Air Badminton Championships a fantastic platform to showcase their skills.
Several notable African badminton stars are scheduled to compete in the championships. Siamupangila Ogar from Zambia, one of the most experienced and talented players in African badminton, will be making her transition to Air Badminton after a successful career in regular badminton.
Shaheer Ramrakha will lead the second-seeded Mauritius team in the Men’s Triples competition, supported by Tamesh Bhoyroo and Varshisht Jagurnath. Nigeria, considered strong favorites, will have Damilola Oyedepo, Queen Chibuzor, and Zainab Momoh in the Women’s Team, while Simeon Akinsola, Habeeb Bello, and Kayode Oyeniran will spearhead Nigeria’s charge in the Men’s Team. Algeria, seeded first, will be represented by Kiouar Sifeddine, Djebli Chouaibe, and Aquamer Sofiane in the Men’s Team, while Amrouni Kahina, Boufenicha Fatima, and Aquamer Sofiane aim to become the first African Air Badminton Women’s Triples Champions.
In preparation for the championships, the BCA, in collaboration with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), has provided support to the Tunisian Badminton Federation. This support includes the provision of Air Badminton equipment, umpire training workshops, and assessments. The President of the Tunisia Badminton Federation Mr. Raouf Sioud expressed his gratitude for the assistance, emphasizing its role in the continued development and promotion of the sport in Tunisia.
The African Beach Games Air Badminton Championships will not only be a platform for intense competition but also a vibrant celebration of culture and sportsmanship. Spectators are encouraged to attend the event, as admission is free. The venue will offer music, food stalls serving a variety of local and international cuisines, and a lively atmosphere for fans to cheer on their favourite teams.
The Mixed Team Relay at the African Beach Games will feature five matches, including women’s doubles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles, and two triples’ events. Matches will be played until one team reaches 16 points, and subsequent matches will start from the previous match’s score until a team in the fifth match reaches 80 points. In the individual events, matches will be played in a best-of-five-games format, with a game won by the side scoring 11 points first.
For more information on qualifying rules and regulations, please visit [link]. The BCA will provide live coverage of all matches through their social media livestreaming platforms, ensuring fans can enjoy the action from anywhere in the world.
The African Beach Games Air Badminton Championships promise to be a thrilling and ground-breaking event, marking the beginning of a new era for badminton in Africa. With the enthusiasm of the players, support from the BCA and BWF, and the passionate Tunisian crowd, this championship will undoubtedly showcase the skill, talent, and dedication of African badminton players on the international stage.
