„We would like to provide as many university citizens as possible with sporting and physical activity opportunities, so we are expanding the range of available sports, including the newly launched Badminton Department,” said Kornélia Várszegi. The Director of the Physical Education and Sport Centre at Semmelweis University explained that recreational activities are ongoing in handball, basketball, volleyball, water polo and football, but as a new addition, training sessions are now also organized at club level. The Semmelweis Sports Association was set up to provide a proper framework for students and staff who want to commit to sports. The club is also open to students who would like to try new forms of physical activity in addition to the compulsory physical education in the curriculum.
The founder of the Badminton Department, Dr. Miklósné Tenk Dr. Andrea Zsebe, Dean of the András Pető Faculty (PAK), used to play badminton competitively herself, so the establishment of the department was a priority for her since the very beginning.
Badminton is a game everyone is familiar with; the basics are easy to learn, the rules are simple and logical. In other words, anyone from an absolute beginner to a professional player can join”
– pointed out the dean.
Training sessions have already started, currently once a week, on Fridays from 18:00 to 19:30 at the Physical Education and Sport Centre of Semmelweis University on Zagreb Road. Márton Szovics, formerly a professional player, then coach of the Badminton Hall in Újpest and currently a student at Semmelweis University, is in charge of the coaching.
As he explained, there are many different activities during a training session: in addition to developing strength, they also practice punches as well as hand and footwork. For the first 20 minutes of the session, there is no ball use, but imitation of the strokes and movements that are worked out.
“I attempt to do everything I can to improve players at different levels. The long-term goal would be to participate in the badminton tournament organized for universities, which is held twice a year. We need to improve a lot for that, because the field is quite competitive, so we would like as many people as possible to join us,” he said.
According to Dr. Miklósné Tenk Dr. Andrea Zsebe, they encourage all Semmelweis Citizens to seize the opportunity and become a member of the Badminton Department. In order to make the decision easier, interested parties are offered a free trial during April and May, for which one can apply on the online interface available (in Hungarian) here.
At the trial training session, necessary equipment and a professional coach will be provided, one just needs to bring sports clothes.
Róbert Tasnádi
Translation: Viktória Kiss
Photo: Bálint Barta – Semmelweis University
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