London Bangla A Force for the community…
IT WASN’T just the winning – it was also the taking part. The Mayor’s latest sporting cup was not just about congratulating those who came top of their categories – it was also about flying the flag for this very accessible sport.
First, though, congratulations to the winners.
Open Age Women’s Event Winners
Onyinye Nkemdirim and Phuong Phuong
Farzana Sheikh and Momota Hussain
Open Age Men’s Event Winners
Tarek Ahmed & Jahed Ahmed
Junior (mixed) Doubles Winners
Ismail Ahmed and Md Shipar
The Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism spoke after the event, re-stating the Council’s commitment to providing opportunities for residents, especially women and girls, to engage in sports. The Cabinet Member went on to say that she looks forward to another exciting tournament next year. What was missing was any information on where residents can play badminton during the year. Annual Tournaments don’t just organise themselves. They are supposed to be a flagship event drawing people into the sport. That needs a Cabinet Member who will work on badminton throughout the year, not just at annual showcase events.
The Council’s website promotes Tower Hamlets Badminton Club. This seems to hold sessions on Saturday evenings. The photos on its website are all of men – playing and sitting on the board. They may be good at what they do, but they do not look as if they will be providing the opportunities for women and girls that the Cabinet Member is hoping to fulfil.
Those who are happy to go it alone, rather than join a club, will find opportunities at the Be Wells, which launched a drive to involve more residents in playing badminton last summer. There’s a Badminton Membership, which lasts for eight sessions, and a 50-session membership: they are priced at £49 and £299 respectively (June 2025 rates – check with your Be Well for any update). That price is probably lower than commercial rates, but it will still be out of reach for many residents in Tower Hamlets – especially young residents. The website also lists sessions at some youth centres, some as part of school holiday schemes.
Cabinet Members receive a financial allowance so that they can work on promoting the services in their portfolio. There are loads of ways the Council could use its position to promote badminton. An alliance with schools could offer badminton to children and young people – and mums and dads after school and at weekends. Secondary schools could have a Badminton League. Badminton could be played throughout the Young Tower Hamlets centres. There could be ongoing promotion of these activities. Badminton has cheap equipment, and it can be played by all ages. It would be nice to see a Cabinet Member who would put some time into developing the sport at grassroots level.
●For more information about Tower Hamlets Badminton Club, go to:
Tower Hamlets Badminton Club
●Read more about it:
York Hall shuts – but Be Wells offer membership deal
Mayor Lutfur Rahman visits Ben Johnson Community Day
