It all heats up on the hardwood this weekend.
Shepparton Sports Stadium will host the AIA Junior State Badminton Circuit Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, with players from Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Melbourne descending on the Goulburn Valley for the event.
It follows news of Greater Shepparton City Council striking a three-year partnership with Badminton Victoria, bringing the tournament to Shepparton for the first time.
This weekend, some of Victoria’s best under-15 and under-19 prospects will skid, slide and slam their way around the courts in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
With the AIA Junior State Badminton Circuit spanning throughout Victoria, Mayor Shane Sali was ecstatic to welcome yet another economy-boosting sporting event to the region.
“Badminton is a growing sport and we are proud to host these young athletes and invite them to experience all that Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley has to offer,” he said.
“Having these athletes and their families stay in our city for not only one, but two days of competition, greatly benefits our visitor economy industries and has positive flow on effects for all local businesses as they sleep, eat, explore and play in the region.”
Securing hosting rights to the tournament comes with hopes the badminton buzz surrounding Shepparton won’t die down after the weekend.
The partnership between council and Badminton Victoria locks the event in in Shepparton for the next three years, aiming to strengthen the relationship with badminton clubs and associations in Greater Shepparton, as well as broaden the region’s sporting event program.
Badminton Victoria chief executive Clinton Proctor spoke highly of the talented youth in its system and what that means for the Greater Shepparton region.
“I am thrilled to announce the upcoming AIA Junior State Circuit 2 Tournament in Shepparton, where we will be showcasing the pinnacle of talent from our associations, clubs and academies who come from all corners of Victoria,” he said.
“We are delighted to partner with the Greater Shepparton City Council and bring this tournament to the city.
“Our objective at Badminton Victoria is to unpack emerging talent and provide a safe environment for all participants and we are incredibly excited to share this with the community.
“In line with our commitment to fostering the growth of the sport, we are excited to unveil our newest initiative, the Regional High-Performance Junior Pathway.
“This strategic approach aims to cultivate young talent in regions like Shepparton, Bendigo, Gippsland and Ballarat, paving the way for the next generation of badminton stars.”