Schools, clubs to benefit from badminton clinic

The coaching clinic that an officer from the Oceania Badminton Confederation will be conducting here on Saipan will greatly benefit students, club members, and sports enthusiasts, according to the Northern Marianas Badminton Federation,.

NMBF said Tony Mordaunt, regional development manager of OBC, will be going to various schools on Saipan during his 11-day visit on the island.

NMBF President Marconi Calindas, who is regularly communicating with Mordaunt, said the visit primarily aims to promote the sport in schools and clubs. Mordaunt also wants to hold workshops for new coaches.

He will be on Saipan from Oct. 1 to 12 and will make his next stop in Palau to conduct similar coaching clinics.

Both the CNMI and Palau have shown much interest in becoming full fledge members of the OBC, thus Mordaunt's visit will pave the way for their inclusion into the zone's roster.

Mordaunt, who has been playing badminton for 25 years, had previously conducted similar visits to other Pacific countries like Fiji, Tuvalu, and the Norfolk Islands.

“My goal is to make sure I don't just fly in, do some coaching and fly out. We need to assist these countries to become sustainable and help them to develop their players,” Mordaunt said in an email to NMBF.

He added that developing more coaches will go a long way as far as achieving their goal is concerned.

Mordaunt is expected to discuss footwork, mental preparations, and other factors which would make an excellent player.

He will also talk about the health benefits of the sport.
(Saipan Tribune)