http://BadmintonChicago.Org

Volunteers for IHSA State Championships

2011-04-09T09:32:00.001-07:00

Volunteers Needed.

IHSA Girls State Badminton Championships, May 13-14, 2010 Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois 61920  Kevin Hussey is hosting the Championships and sent us this note: "...“unofficial” scorekeepers needed. The event begins on Friday at 9:30 a.m. for the scorekeepers meeting.  The matches start at approx. 10:00 a.m. and go until approx. 5 p.m. on Friday, and Saturday from 9 – 2 p.m. ish….... to encourage both adult players and non-tournament participants who are high school “players" to volunteer, I've reserved the gym for Thursday Evening May 12 (8-Midnight), and on Friday Evening May 13 (7-11 p.m.) for the scorekeepers and support staff to play badminton to their hearts content. Volunteers should be 16 years of age or older.......We will even supply the birds for the Thursday and Friday Open Gym Sessions! Sorry, I don’t have a budget to pay stipends, travel, or hotels. However, you can stay in the dorm for a very low cost.."  More details here:  Kevin Hussey (217) 581-2418 (office) (217) 345-7757 (home) Email: kghussey@eiu.edu

Family Sports Fest - Rain or Shine!

2010-09-23T17:17:00.001-07:00

We arrived at the venue for the family sports fest at 10:00AM in drenching rain. Midway Plaisance in the University of Chicago campus apparently was filled with water to showcase boats for the Colombian Exposition in 1893. Well, for a while, it seemed that we might need boats again. In the rain, the volunteers from WSC and BadmintonChicago helped setup the badminton nets and a tent and then waited.

By about 12 noon, the rain was gone and soon we had kids and adults coming by to try out badminton. It was fun and the show was on! We wrapped up the demo by about 5pm. It was a very nice experience and while the turnout could have been much higher without the rain, it was fun to be part of this effort by World Sports Chicago. (Thanks Amanda, Scott, Jen).

Thanks to the volunteers - Anand Bedekar and Daniel Yu !
Here are some pictures Thanks Larry!
Here are some More pictures Thanks Alex!

Do join us for the next BadmintonChicago event - we promise it will not be boring!

Voluneers needed for Demo at Northside Prep.

2010-04-07T06:20:00.000-07:00

We have another need - Northside College Preparatory in Chicago is one of the top ranked high schools in the country. They have a fledgling badminton program and in the past we have helped them start the program and now they have a regular group of players. They are requesting volunteers from BadmintonChicago to demonstrate and coach them on
Wednesday April 28.
12:45- 2:30 pm

If you are available, please click here to sign-up.
http://tinyurl.com/northsidedemo

Please respond by April 15.

Northside College Prepatory
5501 North Kedzie Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625-3923

CPS Badminton Demo March 30 - Cancelled!

2010-03-25T16:32:00.001-07:00

The March 30 CPS Badminton Demo has been cancelled.
There will be other opportunities to volunteer and help.
Thanks!

Chicago SpringFest Postponed to August/September

2010-03-06T21:30:00.000-08:00

Broadway Armory is being closed for renovations sometime in May-June - and so the three-day event will be postponed to August/September. Please stay tuned for more details - as this will be an exciting event in the Chicago area for Badminton.

Chicago Badminton SpringFest 2010

2010-03-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

World Sports Chicago, Chicago Park District, USAB, BadmintonChicago and Yonex are sponsoring a Badminton SpringFest at the Broadway Armory, Chicago, IL on May 21, 22 and 23. Though primarily targeted at Chicago Park District Youth - the event will include a USAB Coaches Clinic, Adult and Junior Open Tournaments and other activities.

Details are being worked out. If you would like to Volunteer, please click here.

BadmintonChicago at the Chinatown Parade

2009-09-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

BadmintonChicago supports Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics. We participated in the Chinatown parade on Sept 27, 2009. Yin Kean organized a float for the Chicago 2016 bid. Ellen Chung and Levyn Mathew represented BadmintonChicago in the parade.

Chinatown Chicago 2016 Parade

Olympic Day at Chicago Lake Shore

2009-06-24T00:07:00.000-07:00

Tarwin Winawan and Larry Doplito organized a group of BadmintonChicago volunteers to help Chicago2016 celebrate Olympic Day on the Lake front along Lake Michigan. It was obviously fun and frolic while showing off why Badminton is a popular Olympic sport.

Link to the entire picture album from Larry is here.

Burbank Doubles run like clock work

2009-05-31T06:16:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Burbank Doubles tournament organized by Sukit Surapiboonchai with Tarwin Winawan as the Tournament Director was an excellent stage to showcase the doubles badminton talent we have in the Chicago area. The tournament started at 9AM and finished on schedule at 6PM. Watch for results at http://badmintonchicago.org.

Susan Jurkonis Tournament a huge success

2009-05-31T06:11:00.000-07:00

Here's the message from John Brander - the tournament director for the Susan Jurkonis Tounament held on May 26-27, 2009. BadmintonChicago.Org donated the software to assist in running the tournament and our volunteers also helped out.

"Greetings fellow badders!!!,
I have established this new e-mail for the tournament, Jurkonismemorial@yahoo.com. I am asking everyone to take a minute and let me know how things went for you. Next year, given the same (and hopefully larger turnout), we will need to expand play. Would you prefer play all day Saturday and Sunday or half day play Friday and Sunday and all day play on Saturday? This should eliminate the long hours of play and short hours of sleep.

First and foremost I want to thank each and every player and spectator for making the 2009 Susan Jurkonis Memorial a success!! I mean it when I say it is truly an honor to be able to run this tournament for what I considered to be a large group of friends. I get excited each year to know that I will see everyone once again and be able to share this great experience with them as well. I know the Jurkonis' feel the same way as well.

I know that the tournament went into the wee hours of the morning but with over 145 participants this was the largest draw we have seen in the 11 years of tournament. With only around 90 entrants just the week before the tournament, I had little reason to worry about such a backlog but did you guys come and come strong! We had over 40 men's singles, men's doubles, and mixed doubles teams. Combined with roughly 18 women's doubles and women's singles participants, and this
was one large badminton party!

Finally, but certainly not last, I would like to thank Sara Karlin for all of her help at the tournament desk. Without her, well I am not sure what would have happened, but it wouldn't have been pretty! Also thanks to Louisville Badminton Supply, Coach Al Loew, the Jurkonis', and the Kimura's for all of their help. Results to follow shortly. Please remember to email with your suggestions or comments, both good and bad! Thanks again everybody and be sure to stay in touch!!!

John Brander

Elk Grove Village Open Resounding Success

2009-03-29T21:35:00.000-07:00

We had record number of entries and we finished on schedule - a rarity for Badminton Events!
Pictures, Results and more here.

Howard Bach visits the Northwest Chinese School in Palatine

2009-03-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

Howard Bach visited the Northwest Chinese School in Palatine on March 22 and played with the kids and other members. He signed autographs and gamely played doubles with various combinations of players trying to get the better of him. Some pictures are here.

Howard Bach at Chinese School Palatine 2009

Asian American Rally for Chicago2016

2009-03-22T20:53:00.000-07:00

Chicago's Asian American Community (Asians4Chicago2016.Org) held a rally of over 2,000 people on March 21, 2009 to support Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics The rally had cultural programs and was attended by the Mayor of Chicago - Richard Daley. Former Olympians - including Howard Bach of the USA badminton team were honored. BadmintonChicago supported this free event, For more information on this rally contact info@badmintonchicago.com

UIC Bhangda Performers at the Asian American Rally.

Howard Bach, USA Badminton Olympian and
Hiroaki Ebihara, President, Yonex USA at the Asian American Rally