With a racket in hand, let’s discover badminton
In Marigot, the Saint-Martin Badminton Club welcomes badminton enthusiasts to the sports hall at the Jean-Louis Vanterpool Stadium. Under the guidance of three qualified coaches, both children and adults can enjoy the sport at both a recreational and competitive level.
Padel, tennis, table tennis – racket sports have been all the rage in recent years. But whilst some enjoy hitting a ball, others prefer a shuttlecock. In Marigot, badminton players meet three times a week at the sports hall at the Jean-Louis Vanterpool Stadium. The Saint-Martin Badminton Club now has 73 members, who compete in singles or doubles matches. “We have people who play for fun, but we also run training sessions for competitive players,” explains the club’s president, Angélique Armougom.
From learning to competition
On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, badminton enthusiasts gather on the courts. Children have sessions from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, whilst adults play from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. On Saturdays, from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm, a recreational session is open to all badminton players.
Suitable for children aged 10 and over, badminton helps develop agility, stamina and concentration. With their feet firmly planted on the ground and rackets in hand, players keep their eyes fixed on the shuttlecock, ready to return it to the opposition’s half in an attempt to score a point. Although the club cannot host competitions due to a lack of indoor facilities, its players regularly take part in tournaments across the region. “For Whitsun, we went to Guadeloupe with five young people and five adults,” explains Angélique Armougom. For anyone wishing to take up the sport, club registrations run from September until 15 October. An annual membership and licence cost €130 for children and €160 for adults. If you’ve missed the registration deadline, don’t worry – you can pay per session at a rate of €5. For more information, email sxmbadclub@gmail.com or call 06 90 66 77 37.
