Health matters and badminton helps

The insurance company MetLife supports badminton at both ends of the spectrum as the title sponsor of Superseries tournaments as well as organises introductions to the sport for kids. MetLife chose Sydney as the second of several stops around the world for its Health Day and one half of Australia’s highest ranked duo, Gronya Somerville, led the program with a big heart.

By Aaron Wong, Badzine correspondent. Photos (rights reserved)

Charisma on court

50 well behaved students from Presbyterian Ladies’ College descended on the NBC Silverwater courts in Sydney on the eve of qualification rounds at the 2017 Australian Superseries.

“We are proud of our global partnership with the BWF,” MetLife Australia CEO Deanne Stewart commented. “We are excited to capture badminton’s spirit of well-being, achievement and dedication to success and share it.”

The perfectly stage-managed event had the obedience of private school students to facilitate its smooth running. The blossoming confidence of its star and spontaneous tender moments were wonderful revelations.

Far from demonstrating from a distance, Gronya Somerville –  ranked world #20 in women’s doubles – stood among the students, explaining and playing games with the them. A primary school girl half her height, quite unpremeditated and wordless about it, wrapped arms around the star for a split second simply because she was near and endearing. The natural affection was reciprocated without any break in the flow of activities.

Somerville, who has been in the limelight since youth, had discernibly matured past being a passenger in promotional activities and her personality shone through today as sports ambassador. She took the stage with poise to address the young ladies looking up to her but later admitted some situations stay unnatural despite the practice, “I’m fine with the interviews but talking in front of a group can be freaky.”

Looking back and looking forward

Somerville mused to Badzine about several of the themes of the afternoon beginning with memories of getting started: “I remember being the age of these girls. I wasn’t particularly great at badminton but I had racquet skills and a sporty background from playing tennis initially.

“Fun in badminton is important and shouldn’t be forgotten whether you’re playing or it’s your job,” she went on to say. “What’s the point without it? Because you’re doing this all the time, every week of the year.”

It became clearer how much this is a sport she adores and a career she is increasingly in control of.

“I’d like to play mixed doubles again. It depends on finding the right partner it clicks with so it will take some time as there’s not a big selection in Australia. I love playing singles too except I’m not great at it.  It requires different attributes. My women’s doubles partnership is really working out. We discuss about everything.”

This platform to encourage a non-sedentary lifestyle from youth also introduced a woman more herself than ever. It was of double benefit to the ladies’ college in attendance.