Grassroots badminton in Brunei is set for a surge after eight badminton coaches and 18 physical education teachers from across the country received their Badminton World Federation (BWF) teaching certificates yesterday.
The eight are now BWF-certified badminton coaches while the 18 are BWF-qualified teachers.
The Shuttle Time programme, which has been carried out in several countries around the world, is aimed at training the coaches and teachers with the hope they will be able to increase the skill-level of their players and students to international standards.
The course, which ran from Feb 28-March 7, was conducted by Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC) Sports Development Officer Muhammad Andy Ardiansyah and held in the country for the first time.
"I gained a lot of experience which I can now use to teach my students," said Bukit Panggal Primary School's Ana Suhana Hj Jabidi after a certificate presentation ceremony at a hotel in the capital.
"There is a lot of interest in the sport in my school, and though sometimes sourcing a hall to play is hard, we make do and equipment is not a problem" she said, adding that the course was easy to follow.
Fatimah Ismail was another teacher raring to put what she had learnt to practice.
"We learnt a lot about things such as technique, psychology and fitness which we can use during our classes," said the Sengkurong Primary School teacher.
"We already know quite a bit about the sport... But what we learnt here was more in-depth and I'd definitely join another course if they have one in the future," she added.
The Acting Director of Schools, Hj Kassim Mohd Yassin, presented the certificates to the participants. Also present was Brunei National Badminton Association president Hj Antin Ahad.
