THE Charles Pyne Badminton Foundation (CPBF), a not-forprofit organisation aiming to provide accessible and sustainable badminton in Jamaica and rural Canada, will stage “The Clash of the Champions” exhibition matches in Jamaica next month.

Pyne, who has retired from international competition, said four All Jamaica Senior champions will take centre stage on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at the Chinese Benevolent Association.

Current champion Gareth Henry and past champions Garron Palmer, Bradley Graham and Pyne himself will take the court at 4:00 pm.

“Admission is by donation of any amount. There will be a raffle for draw prizes throughout the exhibition,” added Pyne, one of two Jamaicans with a world ranking.

The foundation, Pyne stated, “provide badminton programmes that will allow and encourage aspiring players and coaches the opportunities to develop their skills regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status".

Before the Clash of Champions, CPBF will be hosting training clinics in Kingston and Mandeville from January 14-19.

“The training clinic is open to the public and it’s free of charge. The goal of the clinic is to expose the general public to the sport of badminton as well as to offer players an opportunity to develop their skills with the assistance of our coaches,” explained Pyne, ranked 220 in the world with Henry at 197.

“With our trip down to Jamaica, we hope to promote the sport of badminton and bring some excitement back to the game.

“In turn, we hope this will help generate some sponsorship for the sport to help fund programmes and individual athletes who are competing at the international level,” explained the Canada-based Jamaican.