With 257 athletes on the field, from under 9s to masters, the badminton Grand Prix returns to Modena and will be played at the PalaPanini on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June and will also see the participation of Rosa De Marco who will represent Italy at the Paris Paralympics, and Massimo Grotti, from Modena, who plays for the Under 19 national team.
Now in its fifth edition, the national level tournament includes the participation of players from all Italian regions. The event, which has the patronage of the Municipality of Modena and Uisp, is organized by the Modena Badminton sports club and recognized by the Italian Badminton Federation, as well as having the support of Young, as technical partner, of Hera Group and Erion Weee and Erion Energy, the consortia of the Erion system that deal with the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and battery waste.
The Grand Prix Modena Badminton, in fact, as in previous years, also aims to be an opportunity to spread the principles of the circular economy and to support actions that contribute to building a sustainable future. The event, in fact, is officially recognized by the Italian Badminton Federation as a “sustainable event” in compliance with the requirements set out in the federal guidelines issued with the support of the World Badminton Federation. During the tournament, various activities are planned to raise awareness among players and the public on the need to increase the recovery and recycling of WEEE and exhausted batteries, including a lottery, in collaboration with the Hera group, in which everyone can participate: on Saturday 29 June, just deliver telephones, cables, small appliances, computer keyboards, battery chargers and batteries directly to the stand set up at the PalaPanini using the containers provided by Hera. The items delivered will be weighed and based on the weight and number of WEEE and batteries delivered, lottery tickets will be received in exchange.
Also on Saturday 29 June, at 11am, a round table will also take place on the themes of sustainable development through sporting events. The meeting will be attended by the president of the Italian Badminton Federation Carlo Beninati, the president of the Modena Badminton association Marco Tarabusi, the head of the Sport and Youth Office of the Municipality of Modena Giovanna Rondinone, the general director of Erion Weee Giorgio Arienti, the head of the communication Uisp Modena Alessandro Trebbi, Luca Sitta of the Modena Area Environmental Services Directorate of the Hera Group, the general secretary of the Italian Badminton Federation Giovanni Esposito, the president of the European Badminton Confederation Sven Serrè.
Going into the details of the sporting event, for two days, on the 12 courts set up at the PalaPanini, the players, able-bodied and with disabilities, will compete in singles, men’s and women’s, doubles and mixed doubles divided into different categories: Mini-Badminton Under 11 and Under 9, Competition-Under 13, Under 15, Under 17, Junior (Under 19), Senior (Open category), Master (Over 35 and Over 55) and parabadminton. The match schedule is developed with qualifying groups and direct elimination matches.
Although it is still little known and not very widespread in Italy, badminton is an ancient sport and one of the most practiced in the world; watching it is fascinating and fun, full of very fast flying exchanges, changes of front and lively recoveries that make it the fastest of the racket sports. Recognized as an Olympic discipline in 1992, badminton arrived in Modena in 2014 thanks to a group of enthusiasts. In 2016, the Modena Badminton amateur sports association was founded, affiliated with the Italian Badminton Federation (FIBA), with an annual training program for the entire sports season at all levels. It participates in the Italian Serie A team championships and collaborates with various organizations in the area on numerous initiatives, proposing activities also in schools and summer camps for children and adults; furthermore, for its members it promotes training and specialization moments and trips in Italy and abroad for tournaments and internships.
Further information on the sports club’s website and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/modenabadminton).
