I have always been interested in sports and physical activities. When I was a child I had great fun playing 'Hockey' in my backyard with tin cans and playing our own version of Baseball with all the kids in my neighbourhood. During my carefree school years I used to play Soccer, Basketball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Hockey, Running etc.

Strangely enough I discovered Badminton liked many Malaysian kids, on a side street. At the time I was studying at the famous Chung Ling High School in Penang and I was boarding with my aunt. At the side of her house there was a quiet lane where I learned to hit the shuttlecock. Before long we got kids from all around the neighbourhood joining us and it got so popular that we decided to 'build' a badminton court on vacant piece of land next to my aunt's house. The community spirit was so fantastic. We managed to build the court within a couple of weeks without any adult assistance. Council rules and regulations didn't even enter our minds. But on the other hand there was no objection from anyone. The court got used every afternoon after school and of course the weekends. Before long we formed a team and started challenging the neighbouring teams. It was so much fun!

Since then Badminton became and still is the game I love. When I came to Melbourne, Australia to continue my tertiary education I found that badminton was not quite the 'national' sport here. As a result I had to do a bit of 'detective' work to locate places and clubs where I could play. Not for long I started playing competitions with the local clubs. Over the years I have played with the Southern Badminton Association, Central Badminton Association, Diamond Valley Badminton Association and the Western Suburbs Badminton Association. Occasionally I also take part in the Veteran Badminton Tournaments organised by Badminton Victoria.

When I relocated to Sydney early 2004 I was lucky enough to get involved with the Macquarie Universtiy Badminton Club through my niece who is studying at the university. There are some very good players in this club, especially the students from Indonesia.

Recently my sister introduced me to a local club the Castle Hill RSL Badminton Club in Castle Hill, Sydney. It is a very well run club. We play in the Castle Hill High School hall:

• Sunday (1.00pm - 3.00pm) for Junior Coaching
• Sunday (3.00pm - 6.30pm) for graded players
• Wednesday (7.30pm - 10.30pm) for graded players
• Friday (7.30pm - 10.30pm) for all levels and visitors are welcome

Club members often participate in external competitions and tournaments. Below are few photographs from the Sydney Badminton Association, 2006 Veteran Tournament: