Sport Overview

Badminton has been an Olympic Games sport since 1992 and a Commonwealth Games sport since 1966. Australia has won 11 medals in badminton at the Commonwealth Games. The top badminton nations are China, Indonesia, Korea, Denmark and England. It is the fastest racquet sport - smash record is 332kph (tennis smash record is 246kph). Badminton is a physically demanding sport, requiring:

• strength

• endurance

• muscular power

• agility

• speed endurance

• anaerobic power

• capacity to rapidly accelerate and decelerate

Women’s and men’s badminton are played very differently. Unlike women’s tennis, which has seen a significant change in the way the game is played in the last ten years - reflecting more closely the power of the men’s game. Women’s badminton remains a game which is characterised by very strong defence, and unlike the men’s game, a very weak attack.

On the international badminton circuit there are no women who jump smash and deliver the kind of explosive power of the men’s game – a significant opportunity for the right kind of talent identification and development program to take up the challenge and force over time, a significant change in the way women’s badminton is played. The focus on women’s badminton for this talent identification and development program impacts on three of the five disciplines of the sport.

The Jump Smash NTID project will target 9 to 15 year old girls who have the physical characteristics and capacity to develop significant lower body power to vertical jump, the core strength and stability to execute explosive power in jump smashes and the mental attitude to be the best against men. These talented athletes will have, or the capacity to develop strong technical skills in the sport.

The NTID program is essential if Badminton is to become internationally competitive in the long term.

Current Projects

The Jump Smash NTID program is underway in Melbourne and in Ballarat. Two squads will be established in these areas. The aims of the project are to:

Identify 'Next Generation' athletes who fit a particular talent profile - to potentially be the best in the world - and who, if provided with the best possible development program, will achieve podium finishes at the highest level of the sport internationally

• The Jump Smash NTID program will source female athletes who have the greatest potential to be the world’s best female badminton players and those who have the potential to deliver the powerful “Jump Smash”.

• The Jump Smash concept targets 9-15 year old girls who have the physical characteristics and capacity to develop significant lower body power to vertical jump, core strength, and stability to execute explosive power in jump smashes and the mental attitude to be the best. These athletes will have, or the capacity to develop strong racquet / badminton technical skills.

Deliver talent development programs underpinned by research, sports science, innovation and excellence which, develop this new talent identified and also enhance and add new elements and depth to existing talent development programs, maximising potential of current talented athletes in National and Elite squads.

The NTID program also provides Badminton with a high performance model and athletes to challenge the current pathways operating in Australia. The NTID program has allowed the national squad athletes the opportunity to gain access to thesport science and medicine services and training at the AIS via camps at the AIS to assist in their development and also to have a high quality strength and conditioning coach employed to work with them.

Squads

Melbourne Jump Smash Squad

Athletes currently selected:

Jacqueline Guan

Vinning Mak

Gronya Somerville

Joy Lai

Gemma O'Farrell

Aberaami Thananjeyan

Eunice Tse

Alexandra Ball

Georgia Biscaro

Kyoko Bowden

Rebecca Clarnette

Julia Cowell

Isabella Hohaus

Madeline Stockdale

Joanna Weston

Jasmine Ziirsen

Jamey McIntyre

Ballarat Jump Smash Squad

6 –12 athletes will be selected for this squad. Selections to be made end of April 2008.

Results

The NTID coach plans to enter the selected Jump Smash athletes into selected VIC tournaments and Australian age group championships in the future.

The NTID funding supports the current talent of athletes in the national squad in regards to the development. These athletes have been competing and improving on the international circuit.

2007 Waikato International, International Series

• Stuart Gomez Quarter-finalist

2007 Noumea International, Future Series

• Stuart Gomez Semi-finalist

• Tania Luiz/Eugenia Tanaka Semi-finalist

2007 Fiji International, Future Series

• Stuart Gomez Semi-finalist

• Jeff Tho Semi-finalist

• Ben Walklate/Erin Carroll Runner-up

2007 Samoa Test Event, Future Series

• Stuart Gomez Quarter-finalist

• Jeff Tho Semi-finalist

• Ben Walklate/Erin Carroll

2007 Ballarat International, International Series

• Jeff Tho Semi-finalist

• Ross Smith/Glenn Warfe Quarter-finalist

• Ashley Brehaut/Aji Sindoro (INA) Winner

• Chia-Chi Huang Runner-up

2007 Australia International, International Series

• Jeff Tho Quarter-finalist

• Ashley Brehaut/Aji Sindoro (INA) Winner

• Chia-Chi Huang Semi-finalist

• Ben Walklate/Erin Carroll Quarter-finalist

2007 German Open, Grand Prix

• Chia-Chi Huang Quarter-finalist

2007 Korean Open Super Series

• Chia-Chi Huang Quarter-finalist

2007 Victoria International, International Series

• Tania Luiz/Eugenia Tanaka Semi-finalist

• Ben Walklate/Erin Carroll Quarter-finalist

2007 New Zealand Open, Grand Prix

• Ben Walklate/Erin Carroll Quarter-finalist

Listed below is the order of the international events in terms of world ranking points (highest to lowest) which provides an indication of the quality/level of the events:

1. BWF Events (e.g. winner awarded 12000 points)

2. BWF Super Series (e.g. winner awarded 9200 points)

3. BWF GP Gold (e.g. winner awarded 7000 points)

4. BWF GP (e.g. winner awarded 5000 points)

5. BWF International Challenge (e.g. winner awarded 4000 points)

6. BWF International Series (e.g. winner awarded 2500 points)

7. BWF Future Series (e.g. winner awarded 1700 points)

Program Supporters

• Badminton Australia

• Australian Sports Commission

• Australian Institute of Sport

• Ballarat Badminton Association

• UB WestVic Academy of Sport

• Badminton Victoria

Contact/Links

Badminton Australia

For further information and enquires please click here

Testimonials

“The Jump Smash Program has enabled the National Sports Organisation to develop alternative pathways to what currently exists. Badminton Australia expects the NTID program to challenge the existing athletes, and pathways. The additional funding has certainly been required to match the numbers being spent by international competitors”. Damian Kelly, Former CEO Badminton Australia

“I’m fully supportive of the NTID program, as it challenges the current international thinking / training on female badminton athletes. In the long term it will provide an alternative source of athletes into the High Performance Program who potentially:

- Are more athletic

- Have a greater skill base

- Meet the needs physical needs of international badminton”. Claus Poulsen, Former National Coach Badminton Australia

Feedback from the Badminton Camp at the AIS for the current talent:

“This camp at the AIS has been such a valuable educational experience. All the areas – physiology, nutrition, strength etc. have provided additional knowledge and tools for us to use to get better. The quality of information provided was superb and has highlighted such a variety of components in my training regime that can be improved. Mostly, the strength training advice has opened my eyes to how much more I could be achieving by changing some techniques and exercises. I see this as my main priority as one of my main process goals is get stronger/more explosive. Recovery – I will always finish on cold! All the staff have been so helpful and 100% attentive to our specific needs. This is most appreciated thank you. To have your valuable insight and being here in this environment – surrounded by elite athletes – has not only given me a lot of motivation but has also made me realise the attention to detail necessary in every aspect of my training and life, which will factor in me reaching the top. Thanks for this fantastic opportunity and experience”. Tanya, National Badminton Player

“Awesome Camp! Learnt so much, strength and conditioning especially. Lectures learnt so much, especially self-massage and injury prevention”. Stuart, National Badminton Player

“I really enjoyed the time spent at the AIS, it was really beneficial for me. The scientists/professionalism/drive for success at the AIS is incredible. I love being here. Wish Badminton was a full time program!”. Erin, National Badminton Player

“I think it has been a great experience. There are so many factors which can affect a player and create an edge and a camp like this really makes you realise how much responsibility there is on yourself as an athlete to use all the tools available”. Susan, National Badminton Player

Did you know?

Australia is one of only two nations to have competed in every modern Summer Olympic Games

• More about this topic
• More ASC facts

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