Shuttlers measure up to Africa’s best
Badminton, which is particularly popular in Asian countries, is considered to be a Cinderella sport in South Africa and Government funding is very limited, leaving many players having to fund themselves in order to showcase their skills abroad.
Amy Ackerman and Tamsyn Smith were exposed to the continent’s best badminton players in their age group at the recent All-Africa u-15 Badminton Championships in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Ackerman (14), from Springs and Farrarmere resident Smith (13), were part of the eight-member South African team accompanied by national u-15 coach David Calvert which took part in the bi-annual continental age group tournament in the Ivorian capital.
The two St Dunstan’s learners are both members of the Stewart Carson Badminton Academy, based at the John Barrable Hall in Benoni.
Ackerman was in top form and scooped three gold medals in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, while Smith took bronze in the doubles.
Not content with winning the singles title against highly-ranked Algerian Asma Belahouane, Ackerman teamed up with Mia Labuschagne (Border) to claim top honours in the doubles and added the mixed doubles crown to her yield along with Eastern Gauteng teammate Weston Wang.
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Smith won bronze in the doubles with her partner Taniel Stroud of Southern Gauteng and also reached the quarter-finals in the singles and mixed doubles.
Without any financial assistance from Badminton South Africa, parents had to dig deep into their pockets to cover the cost of flights, food and clothing and also collectively contributed towards the accommodation and flight expenses of the coach.
Notwithstanding those trying circumstances, the South African team came home with seven medals (three gold, one silver, three bronze) and ended second behind Mauritius in the overall team classification.
