Service as normal: badminton finest cock-a-hoop to get back to business | Sean Ingle
After cancellations, players are glad to be back on court at the All England Open, even if some are using nods for handshakesThe new normal arrived at the world’s oldest and most prestigious badminton event on Wednesday. Between points of immense speed and devilish subtlety, 180mph jump shots and wristy dinks, there were frequent announcements reminding the crowd at the Arena Birmingham to wash their hands. At the Amstel beer stand there were more hand sanitisers than pumps. And when the matches finished many players shuffled tentatively to the net, unsure how best to acknowledge their opponents. A polite nod of the head was far more common than a handshake.Yet this is where we are in the Covid‑19 era. At least for now. In a fortnight’s time, the thought of large crowds being allowed to watch live sport in the flesh might sound dangerously mad. Continue reading...
After cancellations, players are glad to be back on court at the All England Open, even if some are using nods for handshakesThe new normal arrived at the world’s oldest and most prestigious badminton event on Wednesday. Between points of immense speed and devilish subtlety, 180mph jump shots and wristy dinks, there were frequent announcements reminding the crowd at the Arena Birmingham to wash their hands. At the Amstel beer stand there were more hand sanitisers than pumps. And when the matches finished many players shuffled tentatively to the net, unsure how best to acknowledge their opponents. A polite nod of the head was far more common than a handshake.Yet this is where we are in the Covid‑19 era. At least for now. In a fortnight’s time, the thought of large crowds being allowed to watch live sport in the flesh might sound dangerously mad. Continue reading...
