By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG hosts Australia’s top badminton competition for the first time next week, attracting leading Australian exponents of the world’s fastest racquet sport.
The Clendinnen Shield pits state against state, with Victoria defending its win last year.
The team competition precedes an Australian Closed Championships in which top state players smash shuttles at each other at speeds reaching 250km/h.
Hosting the prestigious tournaments builds on Geelong’s already impressive record in producing international players including Judy Nyrati, Julie and Darren McDonald, Micheala Wise and Wendy Shinners.
Tournament organiser and former Australian international Craig Booley said a quality field had assembled for the twin tournaments, offering novice badminton spectators a wealth of action.
“Getting the tournaments is a bit of a coup for us – often they go to metropolitan venues,” Mr Booley said.
“The opportunity to see some top-line badminton will help promote the sport locally. Seeing high-ranked players and national standard badminton will get kids interested and excited about the sport.”
Leading Geelong junior Jacob Scheuler, 16, will compete in the closed championships.
The Clendinnen Shield runs from 30 August to 2 September and the closed championships from 4 to 6 September at Corio Leisuretime Centre.
