Blogs

Badminton alive and well in the innercity!

Posted by Troy Porter on September 24, 2009 at 12:02pm
Badminton coach Lisco Jackson is convinced that the continued investment in sports is one sure way of providing a lifeline for innercity youth. In a recent interview with the Sunday Herald he pointed to the many badminton success stories, of youngsters from the ghetto, who grasped the opportunity presented to them. He speaks with passion, tempered by frustration at the inability to reach out to more of the youngsters from the vast talent pool in the innercity, where so many never got a chance to realize their potential. “This innercity badminton programme is in its 10th year and has been reaping a lot of success. The number of schools has increased to 11 and the number of players to 400 plus. Some of the successes are the winning of the junior school leagues both male and female, winning senior school league, all island championship. Then there is the Falcon Club, which for the past four years has been the defending champion for Divisions D and C. “Also, various students have been selected for the national junior programme, wherein they have represented the country on two or more occasions. We went to Mexico in 2007, Guatemala in 2008 and Puerto Rico this year and also netted bronze in the Under-17 mixed doubles individual category,” Jackson said. Among Jackson’s protégé’s are Haile Selassie High School student 15-year-old Shana-Kay Bailey and 16-year-old Anthony McNee of St. Jago High School. Bailey who lives in Whitfield Town has represented Jamaica since 2004 when she competed in the Under-11 category in Cuba, where she got a bronze medal. That year Nicholas Robinson also took bronze in the Under-17 category. Since then, Bailey has consistently represented Jamaica and in August copped a bronze medal at the Pan American Championships in Puerto Rico, where she and McNee were part of the Jamaican team which took top spot among the 12 competing countries. They both copped bronze medals. Her ongoing success in badminton has been a source of pride for Bailey, her friends, family and commitment and she credits mom Ethel Taylor who keep her on the right track. “She encourages me to stay in the sport because I am doing well and she wants the best for me. So she encourages me to stay in it. I can see myself going far if I continue and getting to the Olympics,” she said. Managing school work and training is quite easy since training takes place on the weekends at school and the teenager, who has her sights set on becoming an accountant, has the right formula for balancing her books and badminton. “When we take part in a tournament and get to the final and get what we are supposed to get,” she replied when asked about her most exciting moments in the sport. For McNee, his best moment was a victory at the Constant Spring Golf Club where he teamed with Dennis Coke to take the men’s doubles, against some very advance players. It was also the scene of his worst memory – losing the mixed doubles with Shana-Kay. Also doing well in school, he plans to become a computer specialist and also looks to compete at the Olympics. His mother Jacqueline Thompson is doing an excellent job helping him to stay the course in both fields. She keeps a tight rein, ensuring that he gets to school on time, studies at home and gets in time for badminton practice. “She feels good because she made badminton possible for me and is always there for me, encouraging me,” he says with pride. Jackson is convinced that there are many other badminton stars in the innercity waiting for to be discovered. The lack of financial resources in recent times has however put a damper on things. “In previous years Cable and Wireless and the Sports Development Foundation have assisted with funding. This year however it has been very rough. It (lack of funding) was a major deterrent and we were unable to send the proper team to the PanAm Championships, which would have seen us netting more medals and would have probably won the team event, but with no funds it wasn’t supposed to be,” he reasoned. Over the years, schools such as Haile Selassie High have assisted with funding by hosting fundraisers or helping with equipment such as rackets and sneakers. Members of the business community have also lent a hand, while the Jamaica Badminton Association provides starter rackets, shuttles and nets. However, over time players are expected to purchase their own equipment. “I make a public appeal for funding for the programme to continue, as it is one of the best success stories for the innercity,” Jackson begged. He points to the annual Falcons Invitational Tournament set for the November 26-December 13 at the G.C. Foster College. “It has outgrown the innercity and has to be hosted at the College in St. Catherine, which houses eight courts, so with funding dreams can become reality,” he said. http://www.sunheraldja.com/2009/09/badminton-alive-and-well-in-the-innercity/

Community

Culture

Entertainment

Food

Health