Badminton Zambia to implement Shuttle Time programme

THE Badminton Zambia (BZ) is rolling out a programme aimed at popularising the sport in schools as directed by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The programme dubbed ‘Shuttle Time’ would see Badminton introduced in about 35 primary and secondary schools across the Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces and would benefit from the equipment that the WBF had provided.
BZ general secretary Kingsley Mulenga said in an interview yesterday that his association would next Month launch the Shuttle programme in conformity with the BWF’s demands.
Mulenga, however, pointed out that his association would start implementing the programme in 2014.
Zambia would be the third country in Southern Africa to implement the Shuttle Time programme after South Africa and Botswana, with Kenya, Morocco, Algeria and Mauritius having implemented it.
Mulenga said in its first phase of implementing the programme, the national badminton body was currently focusing on schools that had infrastructure that would face the sport.
He said the development was a plus to the Kay Chirwa led BZ executive committee as its prime priority since assuming was to increase the popularity of badminton to all parts of the country.
And Mulenga further said BZ was holding discussions with the Ministry of Education on the possibility of making Badminton sport part of the education curriculum in schools.
He said doing so would draw interest from a number of youths and also create a firm foundation for the future.
“As per demand by the BWF, we will next month launch the shuttle time programme that will see Badminton introduced in 35 schools in Lusaka and on the Copperbelt. Taking the sport to schools has always been our priority as an executive as it will provide a firm foundation for future prospects.
We are therefore delighted that the BWF has come in to provide support in terms of equipment and very soon, we will be receiving the equipment,” he said.