History of Badminton in Eritrea
As we know, the game of badminton is one of the games which is played using a racquet. Badminton was played in the YMCA in Asmara as early as 1970s. Unfortunately, due to successive regime change, the popularity of the sport waned till it was completely nonexistent. The game was resurrected years later when a committee was established in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to promote Badminton. In 1988, a training course was given where only one Eritrean, a Mr. Mesfin GebreMedhin, was able to participate. Mr. Mesfin, then returned to Asmara and gave the first training course in 1989. A badminton committee was formed in Eritrea led by Mr. Fissehaye AndeMariam. The committee started to offer courses in Badminton to children in all age groups. Competitions and Championships were also held between those who participated in the courses that were given.
The acting committee that supervised those early games included:Mr. Fissefaye AndeMariam Chairperson Mr. Redie Tsehaye Assistant Chairperson Mr. ZerieSenay Finance Mr. Abady W/Gebriel Game prep. Mr. Afworky Gebrezgy Public Relations Mr. Tewdros Atsbeha Secretary and coachBelow are the names of the players that participated in the first championships held in 1990:
ELITE:
Temsgen Keleta , Michel T/Birhan, Solomon Atsbeha, Ermias Mekonen, Ermias Bisrat, Hintsa Zewde, Alexander H/Mariam, Kenty Berhe, Aklilu Haile, Yonas Mengistu, Yonatan Haile and others.
1st DIVISION:
Yonas Mekonen, Wintom Tesfay, Simon Okbazghi, Yonas Yosef, Tewdros Yosef, Yemane Atsbha and others.
FEMALES:
Almaz Kahsay, Senayt Tekle, Mery Girmay, Mihret G.Meskel, Tsega O/gebreil, Meaza G/meskel, Meseret Chefena, Asgedech Asefaw and others.
Below are the winners of the first Badminton Championship held in Eritrea on the 2nd June of 1990:
1st place Temesgen Keleta,
2nd place Ermias Mekonen,
3rd place Hintsa Zewde
The Ethiopian Badminton Committee then sent invitations to the Eritrean players to compete in the games that were held in Addis Ababa on July 1990, and two players, Temesgen Kelata and Tewdros Atsbaha, with one team leader, Mr.Fissehaye Andemariam took part. Tewdros and Temesgen won against Sadam and Sirak representing Ethiopia both in the singles and the doubles events. They became the first Eritrean international champions to bring three trophies home. The victory brought more followers and fans to the game and it also helped influence young players.
After the independence of Eritrea, badminton activities started with new spirit and organization. Games were held between 1991 and 1993 by players, but because of the shortage of personnel the sport was not able to continue with the same stride it started with.
Despite the loss of precious 7 to 8 years, badminton was again reborn in the late 1999s. On September 2001, a federation at a central zone level was formed. The Eritrean National Badminton Federation was established on July 2004 and Eritrea became a member of both, the African and the World Badminton Federations in the same year.
Soon after joining the African Badminton Federation, Eritrea participated in the 2004 games that were held in Mauritius with four players, 3 males and 1 female.
The Eritrean national federation, increasingly made cultivation of native specialists and tactical badminton personnel its number one goal. Hence in 2005, a 15 days coaching course both in theory and practice was given in Asmara by Mr. Tunde Kazim, who was sent by both the African and the World Badminton Federation. In the same year, Mr. Ermias Mekonen, an Eritrean got the chance receive a coaching course in Kenya. Mr. Ermias also was able to participate in the 2007 modern playing of badminton course.
In 2008, a year after, the African and World Badminton Federations sent a Bulgarian international coach, Mr. Yasin Vorseb to give a 10 day course where 19 people participated.
Amidst these, many competitions were being held in different gymnasiums in the capital city, Asmara. Many skilled players were being born in to the sport by the day and One could not pass without mentioning the role of many badminton lovers and fans, especially that of Ms. Aranshi Tesfagergish.
The next objective of the newly elected Eritrean National Badminton Federation was to ensure that the game was taken to all corners of the country and not let it be restricted as it was to the capital city only. Thus, measures to introduce Badminton to schools all over the country was taken. Moreover, on July 2011 an international coach Mr.Dagi, taught a 10 day theory and practical coaching training program for beginners to 20 plus personnel from all over the country.
In 2012, the first Eritrean National Championship was held in the Northern Red Sea region in Nakfa, soon after the coaching course that were given. This marked a significant point in the history of Eritrean Badminton and was one of the most successful competition to date.
In the continuing years after introductory courses that were given to students in few schools, the annual central region championships were organized and the winners then automatically qualified for the second national championships that were to be held in Dekemhare on November 2013.
Badminton was also introduced into the EDF games in 2014. The EDF competitions are held every 2 years starting from 1997, although it started with few sports, the games have grown to about 7 types, including badminton. The 2014 EDF games have contributed not a small role in the growth of the sportin Eritrea.
The town of Agordet in the Gash Barka region of Eritrea then was the next destination for the 2014 national championships held on December. The games were a visible proof that Badminton was expanding as other regions other than the central region took top prizes home and hence the goal of the national federation was met sooner than expected.
In 2015, the National Federation planned and carried out a coaching course by two first level coaches that successfully introduced the game of Badminton to 300 student in one week in the port city of Eritrea, Massawa.
The 2015 year calendar included, a U – 15 event that was organized in the capital city of Eritrea, Asmara and a Senior Championships in the Anseba region of Eritrea. There are plans also to ensure participation of the 6 zones in coaching courses. The federation is also working towards gender equality in the game.
In the end, badminton in our country had its ups and downs but now, it is in the right track growing. We, as a country would like to see our national players compete in the international levels but that would only be possible if shortages in training facility, equipments like shuttlecocks, racquets, court carpets, nets and especially personnel at both coaching and administrative level are met.