The Humans of Shuttle Time series from the Badminton World Federation shares the viewpoints of those who contribute to grassroots badminton development. Dorna is a volunteer coach from Papua New Guinea who has used Shuttle Time to learn and give back to her community.
‘I grew up in a sporting family. I have been playing various sports growing up; athletics and rugby league were my main sports. Rugby league is where I got an injury from in high school.’ explains Dorna.
First Experience
In early 2022, I was invited to a training session with PNG Para team. Jackie Travertz of High Performance PNG invited me to try it out.
Watching the Para athletes at training motivated me to play as they were playing well despite their disabilities. Since then I have grown fond of the sport. It’s like I’m engaged to the sport and about to get married to it now.
Memorable Events
The Para Badminton Oceania Championships in Melbourne in July 2022. Although we are from different countries, they assisted me with my training by giving me helpful tips, and they are still assisting me now.
What Badminton Means
Badminton has been a source of support during my journey and I would love to give back to the sport in whatever way I can.
What Makes it Different
Badminton is a fast game, keeps you fit, its footwork is very different from rugby league and athletics and it is a very inclusive sport – no one gets left behind.
Developing Badminton in the Community
I’ve seen that a lot of young people need to tap in to the sport because it’s good for a healthy lifestyle. It’s a fun sport with different age groups within the community.
Impact of Shuttle Time
Kids nowadays are always on their phones. In my community now, most kids are no longer playing on their phones but are coming out in the afternoon to play badminton.
Lessons from Shuttle Time
From Shuttle Time we have learnt the importance of Timing (being on time for sessions) and Planning (making sure the programme is suitable for the age group and different abilities).
