An excited Summers spoke to the DFA from Bloemfontein where he, with the assistance of his mother, is currently coaching youngsters in the art of the game of Badminton.
KIMBERLEY-born badminton player Robert Wade Summers is over the moon at being selected to play for the South African national team that will take part in this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England from July 28.
An excited Summers spoke to the DFA from Bloemfontein where he, with the assistance of his mother, is currently coaching youngsters in the art of the game of Badminton.
“It’s a dream come true for me. I remember when I was young and used to watch the South African team on television. It has not sunk in yet. My whole life I’ve been working for this moment. I am generally happy (at being selected). It’s a childhood dream come true,” Summers said.
He mentioned that he received the invitation to join the South African badminton team on Monday this week from the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) in collaboration with the South African Badminton Association.
The Kimberley-born and schooled Summers confirmed that he now turns out for the Free State in badminton where he is also pursuing a law degree at the University of Free State.
He briefly related how and where his lifelong passion for the game started. “I started when I was about four years old. I grew up next to a badminton court where I used to watch my mother and her sister play at the badminton court in De Beers.
“I was practically born with a racket in hand. I later also played for De Beers when I became a member,” he said.
Robert’s proud father Keith Summers, mentioned that his son is the current South African Men’s Singles Open and Doubles Open champion.
The Commonwealth Games are generally a multi-sport event and will run from July 28 till August 8.
All the following sports codes will be represented at the event in Birmingham : para athletics, beach volleyball, boxing, cricket (women), cycling, gymnastics, hockey (women), judo, lawn bowls, netball, para lawn bowls, swimming, para-swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, triathlon, para-triathlon, rugby sevens and weightlifting.
About 190 athletes were announced to fly the South African flag in Birmingham, including swimming sensations Chad Le Clos and Tatjana Schoenmaker.
The Chief Executive Officer of SASCOC Nozipho Jafta, explained the importance of the Commonwealth Games.
“To us, Birmingham Commonwealth Games presents an opportunity for those athletes with Olympic ambitions to stake their claim for Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028,” Jafta said.
