Albany 2026: Feathers fly as WA’s best shuttlers star in first State ranking event staged in Great Southern

Albany’s Bicentenary Badminton Tournament was a roaring success over two days at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre at the weekend, attracting 170 players from across the State and beyond. It was the first time a State-ranking event had been played in the Great Southern, with competitors in the hunt for a share of the $22,000 prize fund. The field featured most of the best players in the State, many of whom have represented Australia, and Tokyo Paralympian Caitin Dransfield who was using the event as experience ahead of a tilt at making the Australian team for the 2028 LA games. Competitors were supported by friends and family, as well as myriad volunteers from the Great Southern Badminton Association and associations further afield who chipped in to help. Michelle Watson, president of the GSBA, said it had been a marathon effort to organise but had been worth it. “It has been wonderful, definitely a success for the region,” she said. “It was a really large undertaking with fundraising which started with sausage sizzles at Bunnings, a calendar drop for the City of Albany and a massive raffle. “We have had volunteers from our association and other regional associations, which has been marvellous.” The City of Albany and Albany Community Bank were key backers of the event. Christine Ferguson, president of Badminton WA, said Albany had done the sport proud. “It has been fantastic to bring an event of this status to Albany,” she said. “It has gone amazingly well.”