In 2020, over 70 applications were received from more than 30 countries worldwide as female athletes were encouraged to apply for financial support to attend and be Internationally Classified at a number of BWF sanctioned International tournaments in 2020.<\/p>\n
Seven female Para badminton players from Oceania are reaping the benefits of the BWF Female Participation Grant, all of which competed in the recent VICTOR Oceania Para Badminton Championships 2020 in Ballarat:<\/p>\n
For many of the players in Oceania, this opens a world of opportunity as the continental location provides many barriers to competing at international events as transport becomes increasingly more expensive and complicated.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s Fiona Sing and Angelina Melki are both relatively new to Para badminton and are excited by the prospects involved with the grant.[vc_column_text]Previously a tennis player, Sing has found a new community of players that she enjoys training and competing with. However, living in Tamworth (a remote part of New South Wales), has proved to be a barrier for the aspiring player.<\/p>\n
\u201cTransport around Australia is an issue for me, as I often have to catch connecting flights whether it\u2019s domestic or international. I don\u2019t have any sponsors at the minute so this grant helps to pay for the airfare so I can attend these events\u201d, says Fiona.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”5947″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]15-year-old Angelina had a similar reply, stating that the grant is also helping her to gain the experience to go beyond the continental championships.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would love to keep representing Oceania and hope that I can compete in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a new experience for me and it is making me realise what I need to work on in a competitive setting\u201d, says Melki.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”5945″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Similarly, New Zealand\u2019s Carrie Wilson was delighted to have the opportunity to compete thanks to the grant.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t have been able to compete without the grant as I simply wouldn\u2019t have been able to pay for the expenses to compete\u201d.<\/p>\n
Despite being her first international Para badminton tournament since an accident left her paralysed below the right knee, Wilson went on to win the women\u2019s singles SL3-SU5 Gold medal in the VICTOR Oceania Para Badminton Championships 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been an amazing experience. This has given me more purpose and something to look forward to. It\u2019s helped to change my mindset in a positive way\u201d, says Carrie.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”5946″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]All players expressed their gratitude for the grant and their interest in competing in the future.<\/p>\n
In only two week\u2019s time, Australia\u2019s Kim Duong (who won silver in the women\u2019s singles final against Carrie) will be using her BWF Female Participation Grant to compete in the Spanish Para Badminton International 2020.<\/p>\n