Five dedicated educators from across the nation were honored with the prestigious Badminton World Federation (BWF) Shuttle Time Teachers Certificate on Saturday, December 7, 2026, during a ceremony at Vodafone Arena organized by Badminton Fiji (BF). The esteemed recipients 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, Badminton Fiji’s development officer.
These awards reflect BWF’s commitment to enhancing the presence of badminton within educational institutions. The certification ceremony was part of the successful Badminton Fiji Secondary School tournament, held from December 5 to 7 at Yat Sen School Hall. The event included a certification workshop designed to promote badminton as an engaging, accessible sport for young people while fostering key skills such as coordination, teamwork, and discipline.
Participants left the workshop equipped with the resources and tools needed to conduct safe and inclusive badminton sessions in their schools. The BWF Shuttle Time programme is a global initiative aimed at introducing children to badminton in a fun and educational manner.
During the awards ceremony, Badminton Fiji underscored the crucial role educators play in fostering the development of the sport at the grassroots level. A representative from BF noted, “These five educators have showcased remarkable dedication with their newly acquired skills and resources; we are confident they will inspire countless students to embrace badminton.” Sisa Koyamaibole, a distinguished sporting figure and former Flying Fijians loose forward, presented the awards and praised the teachers for their commitment to nurturing the sport within their communities.
In an optimistic drive for the future, Badminton Fiji is actively encouraging more schools and educators to engage in the Shuttle Time programme, aiming to increase the sport’s reach and impact among young athletes. This initiative represents a promising step forward in building a stronger badminton community in educational settings.