The YWCA complex is situated next to the Amata Golf Course and has been the hosts to the National Badminton Championships of Thailand for many years, as has the involvement of the Pattaya Sports Club. The hall has 5 badminton courts which is perfect to accommodate 700 children over a 5 day period, all challenging for the right to be called ‘champion’.
We arrived in time to see the semi finals and finals of the boys and girls doubles championships and could only marvel at the standard attained, not only by the older groups, but those as young as 9 years old. The competitiveness, speed, energy and control of the players was amazing. Did I have that much energy when I was their age?
Future badminton stars show their skills on court.
Thailand has a well deserved reputation in world badminton with a number of male and female players featuring in the world’s top 20 in their respective groups. And who could forget the achievements of Ratchanock Inthanon who became the world’s youngest ever world champion at the age of 18 in 2013 and made her name by winning this particular championship two years in a row when she was 14 and 15 years old before going on to greater things.
William Macey, Charity Chairman of the PSC, presents medals to the under-16 girls winners.
Khun Ying, the head of the National Badminton Association of Thailand, was there to present some of the prizes and to congratulate the winners as were representatives of Pattaya Sports Club and recorded by Thai TV and newspapers.
Pattaya Sports Club is well known for its charitable activities but it is worth mentioning the fact that PSC also support sports in all its forms and encourages Thai children to indulge in sport, not for the long-term health benefits, but also as a way to get them to keep to the straight and narrow throughout their lives.
William Macey (right) with Khun Ying (center) and PSC Social Chairman, Nigel Cannon (left).
Young champions and medal winners pose for a group photo.
