Five dedicated educators from various parts of the nation were celebrated with the esteemed Badminton World Federation (BWF) Shuttle Time Teachers Certificate on Saturday, December 7, 2026, at Vodafone Arena, a ceremony organized by Badminton Fiji (BF). The honorees included Kathrine Powell and Abigail Kamea from Saint Joseph Secondary School, Chrishant Gounder of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School, Rajneel Chand from Jeremiah Raibevu College, and Josephine Caine, a development officer for Badminton Fiji.
These awards revolve around BWF’s commitment to enhancing badminton in educational institutions. The certification ceremony was a key feature of the successful Badminton Fiji Secondary School tournament, which took place at Yat Sen School Hall from December 5 to 7. During this three-day event, a certification workshop was held to promote badminton as an engaging and accessible sport for youth, while also fostering essential skills like coordination, teamwork, and discipline.
By the conclusion of the workshop, the participants were armed with the necessary tools and resources to conduct safe and inclusive badminton sessions in their schools. The BWF Shuttle Time programme, part of a global initiative, is crafted to introduce children to badminton in a fun and educational manner.
At the awards presentation, Badminton Fiji highlighted the vital role that educators play in the development of the sport at the grassroots level. “These five educators have shown remarkable dedication with their newly acquired skills and resources; we are confident they will inspire countless students to embrace badminton,” stated a representative from BF. The awards were presented by Sisa Koyamaibole, a prominent sporting figure and former Flying Fijians loose forward, who commended the teachers for their commitment to nurturing the sport within their communities.
In a hopeful message for the future, Badminton Fiji is actively encouraging more schools and educators to participate in the Shuttle Time programme, aiming to expand the reach and impact of badminton among young athletes.