What is happening to a popular sport like badminton that is taken up as a recreational sport in Sri Lanka? Most parents give their children a pair of racquets and shuttle to allow them to play in a small space in front of their homes. This will also give them a little bit of exercise that a child needs as they grow up.
Once grown up the child will definitely switch over to another sport that attracts spectators in large numbers. Sports like rugby, cricket and soccer attract the most number of spectators in Sri Lanka. Other sports like motor racing, athletics, netball and even basketball attract crowds that fill their stadiums.
However, very few children continue to play badminton seriously which is an Olympic Sport and want to participate at the highest level and perhaps represent the country at the Olympic Games some day. Besides, the controlling body for badminton in Sri Lanka often sends players overseas to participate in low ranking tournaments. The players are also very thrilled by these actions as they are taken to other countries. They not only participate in the tournament they also get an opportunity to see other countries in person that thrills the players concerned.
But the standard of the game in Sri Lanka is far below expectations as those players who are taken overseas to participate in tournaments do not go beyond the first or second round. This has happened very often and nothing is done to improve the standards of these local players.
True, Sri Lanka has sent players to the Olympic Games for some time now. However, even the best player in Sri Lanka at one time like Niluka Karunaratne has not gone beyond the first or second stage. The last time Sri Lanka sent a player for the Olympics in 2024 he lost to a 39 year-old opponent in the preliminary stage itself. That’s how low the standard of badminton in Sri Lanka is.
Now the question is, how can the standard be improved?
The first thing is to hire top notch coaches from oversees like Indonesia, Malaysia and China. These countries have produced the best players in the world so they should know exactly what the Sri Lanka players lack.
They should also play against players whose standard is higher than the Sri Lankans. It is only then that Sri Lanka can develop in those areas that we are lacking in.
It is also noticed that a player should possess quick reflexes in this game. It is only then that a player will be able to pick up the shuttle that is sent to them at very high speed by their opponent. There should be certain exercises that should be followed to improve reflexes in a person.
If these areas can be attended to then the standard of Sri Lankan badminton players should improve after many years of practice. Until such time, the standard of badminton in Sri Lanka will be at a low level.
