Our September Serve-ing Pacific winner is Christy Villaflor of Northern Marianas Badminton Association. Christy has been involved in the sport for 20 years and was nominated for the value of Inclusiveness
Tell us about yourself
I am Christy Villaflor Secretary General of Northern Marianas Badminton Association. Started playing badminton back in 2003 as past time with my co-workers every other week. In 2006 Badminton was introduced as part of the intercompany league sports that’s where my badminton interest grew.
Tell us about your roles and journey with Badminton
Away from home as contract worker, Badminton became the activity that keeps me healthy and occupied. I met new friends, enjoyed playing and participating in tournaments that the association organized. By 2012, a club system was introduced and I became the president on one of the clubs Taga Badminton Club. From thereon become active with badminton and it’s activities from community service to tournament organizing. In 2019, I was nominated as Shuttle time coordinator that’s when we started with some shuttle time activities as that was the pandemic year. In 2021, we expand introduction of badminton at different and different grade. The Public School System made a tie-up with Northern Marianas Badminton Association in organizing interscholastic activities for middle school late 2021. We become the organizing committee and officials as the same time. In 2021 I had the 1st official umpiring accreditation as Pacific Umpire.
What do you enjoy the most about badminton as a sport?
What I enjoyed the most about badminton is teaching and mentoring the kids to play and see them improved. Improvement showed in competition results. With the accreditation, we were able to properly and successfully organized competitions and were able to apply and practice umpiring and lining skills.
What do you enjoy the most about volunteering in badminton?
What I enjoyed the most in volunteering badminton is having organized events succeed with positive feedback from different stakeholders.
You were nominated for your commitment to Inclusiveness – what do these values mean to you and how do you embody the value with Badminton?
I believe that badminton is for all thus, it should not limit to physically and mentally able only. This sports must be enjoyed by everyone. It is very fulfilling seeing everyone enjoy badminton.
What role do you think badminton plays in your country/community?
Although badminton is not yet a main stream sport in Northern Marianas, it is now getting popular because of NMBA’s partnership with Public School System, as well as the result of Pacific Mini Games and the just concluded International competition that we just hosted. We have grown the pool of players that represents our Country from Adult, now we have younger pool that we are training and were able to represent NMI in New Zealand.
What impact do you hope to make through your involvement in badminton?
I am hoping to train and grow more players and officials. Right now we were able to grow pool of Shuttle time teachers, Youth Leaders, Line Judges and Junior Umpires. I am currently nominated as International Line Judge and Pacific Umpire. I officiated some International competitions, my hope is to encourage the youth to take on path as technical officials or national player to represent NMI in the near future.
What is your message to aspiring players and leaders?
My message to the young players and youth leaders is to be patient and be discipline. There are a lot of big opportunities awaiting for them in a nation like NMI. They have to persevere to make dreams happen.
What is your favorite memory or highlights of volunteering in badminton?
My favorite memory is when I umpired the International competition and was able to officiate top ranking players from different countries. And was able to umpire a match that goes to 30/29, nerve wrecking but exciting.
