Badminton is changing the lives of hundreds of young people in the state of Piauí. Started in 2006, the “Jovens Talentos de Badminton” (Badminton Young Talents in Portuguese) project benefits more than 800 children and teenagers, aged seven to 18 years old, in the public schools of Teresina, the capital of the state of Piauí. The initiative promotes social inclusion and assists people in enjoying their full rights as citizens through the regular practice of the sport – which has already become a true fever among the state’s youth – and also discovers young athletes for Brazil.

The project, which received the 2011 International Olympic Committee (IOC) “Sport and Social Responsibility” award, shows its outcome on the Badminton courts. In charge of the Brazil national junior team, Coach Norma Teotônio Rodrigues celebrates these youngsters’ path. They are breaking down Brazilian social as well as territorial barriers.

“From 2009, the project’s athletes stand out in South and Pan American championships. Last year, from the Pan American Games in Canada, we brought back one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. This year, in the Pan American Games in Mexico, we almost doubled the number of medals, with seven in total. And in the South American Games in Peru, we took nine gold medals. Here in Brazil, we were awarded the title of best team for three consecutive times and, in the last national championships in Campinas, state of São Paulo, we won 13 out of 25 possible gold medals”, Norma says.

It was such a success that, in 2011, Norma and two talented young players – 18-year-old Andreza Miranda and 19-year-old Lucas Alves – spent three months training in Malaysia, where the sport tops the popularity list.

“We stayed in Setia Alan, a city in the state of Selangor, we trained in a sports complex with 26 courts and excellent coaches. One of them was Han Jian, a two-time world champion from China. It was a fantastic experience”, Norma said.

Walesson Vinícius dos Santos, 14, is one of the “International Badminton Stars” in the state of Piauí. He started playing in 2007 at Nossa Senhora da Paz Municipal School in Teresina and soon after, he started to play in the Piauí state team. Two years later, he made his debut in international competitions, winning a gold medal in the South American Championships in Colombia. Despite the time dedicated to training, Vinícius ensures the sport never disturbed his studies.

“On the contrary, my performance at school improved. Sport is very helpful regarding concentration and willpower”, he explained.

Daniel Paiola, Brazil’s current best Badminton player always keeps an eye out for the appearance of new Badminton promises. And he teaches:

“I already lost a number of matches and I was hit by the shuttlecocks several times. The message I leave you is that it doesn’t matter the size of the dream, just pursue it. Don’t give up. I started to play when I was 14 years old and competed in national championships for the first time at the age of 18. The opportunity you have of competing in national and international championships from an early age is unique”, says Paiola, number 142 in the world ranking.

In the face of such a success, the project does not stop growing and today it celebrates the creation of new centres in the state.

“The project started seven years ago as a personal initiative. Today, we have 16 Badminton centres in Teresina public schools, besides three private ones, as well as centres in another four cities: Castelo do Piauí, Madeiro, Luzilândia and Parnaíba. Our project is still going strong but we still can grow a lot more”, Norma says.

Rio de Janeiro and Campinas also bet on Badminton

Two other Badminton social programmes stand out as well in Brazil, the land of Football. In Campinas, more than 120 young people benefit from the “Os Seareiros” (Planters in Portuguese) project, in place since 2007 in Vila Brandina neighbourhood.

In Rio de Janeiro, the “Miratus” project has around 230 pupils – including adults under 27 years old – in Chacrinha favela, in the West Zone of the city. And, from 1998, it develops physical and educative activities in order to promote social inclusion and to discover the sport’s new talents. The main discoveries are Lohaynny Caroline, 17, who trains with Brazil permanent national team in Campinas and Ygor Coelho, 16. In October, Ygor will compete in the BWF World Junior Championships in Thailand.