The following interview with Guyana’s Shuttle Time national coordinator Emelia Ramdhani was posted on BWF Development and Shuttle Time Facebook page.
Ramdhani is the current president of the Guyana Badminton Association. She has been actively involved in expanding the Shuttle Time programme in Guyana, taking the game to different regions of the country.
In 2012, BWF, the world’s governing body for the racquet sport, launched Shuttle Time globally.
It offers school teachers access to resources, training and equipment, which support the teaching of enjoyable, safe and inclusive badminton activities to children aged 5-15 years old.
Shuttle Time lessons are designed to provide children with a positive image of badminton through many opportunities to have fun, engage with others and experience success.
Shuttle Time is currently being implemented in more than 140 countries in partnership with BWF’s Continental Confederations and Member Associations.
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Emelia Ramdhani (ER): My childhood was basic and conservative. As children we were not exposed to many sporting activities; we climbed trees and played outdoors.
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
ER: My first encounter with badminton was through my late husband Gokarn Ramdhani at his badminton club in 1994. I saw the game and was fascinated with it. He taught me how to play.
What struck me most was the competitiveness, strategy and the players’ love for the game.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 w𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧
ER: My husband’s passion has always been badminton and it slowly became mine as well and so when we had children it became a family affair (the family that plays together, stays together) and continues to be until now, even though he’s not around.
Badminton is a big part of our lives, so much so that we can’t imagine anything else for ourselves — playing, administering and promoting the sport in our country.
𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
ER: There are many memorable moments, watching my children compete and win, travelling to the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and meeting the athletes. My most memorable moment will always be my introduction to the sport in 1994.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬
ER: For me badminton is a means to continue the legacy left by my late husband and President of the Guyana Badminton Association, promoting and popularising the sport in Guyana. Badminton is a sport that brings people together for physical activity, competition and social interaction.
For some, it’s a way to stay fit and healthy, while for others, it’s a passion and a form of self-expression. It can also be a means of relaxation and stress relief, as well as a way to challenge oneself both mentally and physically.
Ultimately the meaning of badminton varies depending on one’s experiences, interests and the role sport plays in their lives.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭
ER: Aside from badminton being the fastest racquet sport, it requires physical and mental agility. Players must possess stamina to endure long rallies while maintaining tactical awareness. This distinguishes badminton from other sports and games.
𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧
ER: My experiences vary depending on the area we visit to promote the Shuttle Time programme. Recently we visited Region Two (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) in Guyana where the community’s exposure is only to one sport, which is cricket.
The students, teachers and students were so eager to learn a new sport, something to challenge them and break the monotony of everyday life.
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞
ER: Introducing new sports and physical activities can have a significant impact on individuals and communities, providing opportunities for physical fitness, skill development, teamwork and fun.
Shuttle Time is making a difference in the lives of those we’ve encountered and it’s exciting to see such enthusiasm for learning and trying new things while contributing to the overall promotion of health, wellbeing and active lifestyles in the region.
𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞
ER: Through Shuttle Time I’ve learnt that sport bring people together, it’s a powerful tool for positive social change. It teaches children discipline and hard work on and off the court.
It has taught me personal growth in terms of developing the sport in Guyana, but most of all it has taught me the power of teamwork (collaborating with the different entities to making our outreach possible- Badminton Pan Am, Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Education, etc).
Read more about Shuttle Time in Guyana:
Ramdhani lobbies for Shuttle Time at BWF’s AGM
Shuttle Time Badminton Programme underway in Guyana
GBA introduces Shuttle Time Project in Linden
Badminton Association takes Shuttle Time Project to Berbice
