BADMINTON’S PROGRESS

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 10 June 1933, Page 8

BADMINTON’S PROGRESS

RAPID GROWTH OF POPULARITY. Badminton, a game which is increasing in popularity in Now Zealand there are three clubs in Hawcra—has never been more flourishing m England than it is to-day. The ‘ hon. secretary of the Badminton Association of England reports, a big increase in every -department. There has been amt addition of 188 clubs affiliated to the association, since the season opened. There have been 10 more open tournaments- than there were last season, and the entries in tournaments have, been larger all round. “Every day the size of my mail increases, and

this morning I received over a hundred letters,” the secretary of the association told a London newspapeiman. That is the official state of the game. But in every town and village badminton is played -unofficially as w ell as officially. The difficulty is to obtain a room. Garages, old stables, derelict houses, in fact any unused building with a roof, is eagerly taken and turned into badminton halls by enthusiasts. There are over 200,000 affiliated players; there must he twice that number who are not affiliated. So great lias been tlie growth of the game that in the large centres', Where tournaments are held —they are played m the evening—the aoconnno elation for spectators has not been adequate. The management of tlie covered lawn tennis courts at Craigside, Llandudno, -states that it is seriously considering the idea of converting them .permanently into badminton courts. Badminton can be played as well in artificial light as- in dayligth; consequently it appeals to men and women who have to work in the daytime.