THE country’s national badminton team members and coaches are hailing their recent stint in the People’s Republic of China, under the Jamaica-China Technical Cooperation Programme, as a valuable experience.

The Jamaica-China Technical Cooperation Programme was initiated in 2017 with the signing of an agreement between the countries.

Over the project’s duration, coaches and other support personnel will travel to China for training and competitions, for a period of two months.

Athletes, coaches and managers, engaged in seven disciplines, travelled to China in the summer of 2018 for initial engagements.

The sports represented were badminton, swimming, synchronised swimming, women’s football, basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics.

The badminton delegation, which returned to the island recently, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn more about the sport.

Team coach, Richard Wong, tells JIS News that the visit was a great experience, adding that the members will be looking to implement best practices inspired by the Chinese.

“We did a lot of training over there and we learnt a lot of what we need to know. We also got knowledge of infrastructure that China has, and we are going to try and implement that here. [This] means we are going to start programmes [for persons] from as early as six years old, and then bring them up just as early as the Chinese do so [that], hopefully, we can provide the type of players that they do,” Wong states.

Wong outlines that the players have been complimentary about the programme, noting that it has aided in improving their technique and fitness levels.

“The training was quite rigorous; a lot of them were not used to it, quite frankly. But the [Chinese team] coach adjusted the programme and slowly brought them up to the fitness levels that they should be at — so our aim is to continue that level here in Jamaica,” he adds.

He added that the team will now focus on implementing ongoing programmes, with emphasis on technical and physical training, in a bid to maintain the standards team members were exposed to in China.

Wong also has high praises for the overall programme which he describes as a “great initiative”, noting that it exposed the delegation, not only to useful best practices but also the culture of China.

For his part, badminton Team Captain Craig Edison says their two-month stay comprised intense training, pointing out that members sparred with some of China’s top players.

“We trained twice per day — two hours in the morning doing technical [training], and three hours in the afternoon getting physical. I can assure you that all our players’ [skills] have improved tremendously,” Edison said.

“What we learned most about China is that they are very disciplined, and everything that they taught us, we are very grateful for it. Our shots have gotten sharper; our consistency, everything [has improved]. We really appreciate what the coach has done for us,” Edison noted.