During the school holidays took place in early August, members of Tahiti’s national squad turned up to support the nation’s return to court, maximising the opportunity to get rackets into the hands of the next generation.
Tahiti’s Louis Beaubois, Yohan Lemaire, Esther Tau and Melissa Mi You were among the assistants who delivered the sessions to groups of children (aged 6-11) in Pape’ete.
“I was very grateful for their input. It was a great week to spend with the kids”, says Tahiti’s coach and player, Leo Cucuel.
Posted by Tahiti Badminton Federation on Saturday, August 1, 2020
Throughout the holidays, five sessions took place every morning during the week, with the national squad players sharing their personal exercise programmes with the children and embracing the return to court to stay on and train in preparation for future competition – whenever that may be.
Posted by Tahiti Badminton Federation on Thursday, August 6, 2020
Tahiti Badminton Federation were lucky to squeeze in some boosted Shuttle Time activity, before the nation implemented a ban on sports and gatherings as COVID-19 cases began to grow once again, with imposed restrictions coming back into place.
For player’s like Beaubois, a youngster with high ambitions in badminton, the frustration of not being able to play is alleviated by the stunning landscapes that they are surrounded by on the Paradisal island of Tahiti.
Backed up by experiences from previous Badminton Oceania-led development camps, it is back to the drawing board for Louis as a second lockdown means the home workouts make a swift return.
“I think it is easier to train in Tahiti with the landscape and peace of the island, especially as it is warm”
