Badminton: Minister Meriton has words of encouragement for badminton players ahead of China camp |06 June 2015

Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton met members of the national badminton team on Wednesday evening ahead of their training camp in China.

With the various sports associations and federations putting the final touches to their preparation for the 2015 Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG), Minister Meriton met the badminton team at one of their training sessions at the La Promenade Gymnasium and he urged them to work towards improving on what they achieved in the 2011 Games held here.

“I believe that if you all work hard and to the best of your ability winning all seven gold medals will not be an impossible task,” said Minister Meriton as he addressed the 11 members of the team.

Seychelles dominated the singles and doubles events in 2011, winning four gold medals and will hope for a better performance in Reunion. Cynthia Course and George Cupidon won the women’s and men’s singles. Course and Alisen Camille triumphed in the women’s doubles and the duo of Cupidon and Steve Malcouzane won gold in the men’s doubles.

Five members of the team will be leaving Seychelles on June 8 for China for a month-long training camp in preparation for the games. They are Juliette Ah-Wan, Cynthia Course, Alisen Camille, Steve Malcouzane and Kervin Ghislain.

The other members of the team – Javis Renaud, Fabien Cadeau, Danielle Jupiter, Georgie Cupidon and Richie Course – will follow an intensive training camp locally before meeting up with the rest of  the team for the final preparation.

The minister was accompanied to the meeting by the chief executive of the National Sports Council Giovanna Rousseau and members of the Seychelles Badminton Association.

S. N.