Sam Armadass' Story | Elite Sponsorship Fund | World Senior Badminton Championships 2025
Fostering a life-long passion for sport has been CSSC’s mission since our inception, so we take any opportunity to help members follow their dreams. CSSC member, Sam Armadass, has been playing Badminton since he was 6 years old. When Sam sought funding to attend the World Senior Badminton Championships (over 70s), we were only too happy to support with the Elite Sponsorship Fund to help with his costs.
We caught up with Sam, to hear how badminton become his sport of choice.
“When I approached CSSC for funding, I was open minded about the outcome. However, not only was I successful but I was also supported in this venture, for which I am grateful and appreciative. I since found out that the funding is sourced by the CSSC Community Lottery. I have been using CSSC savings ever since it was set up and have saved using cashback vouchers, which is very good value.
I was introduced to badminton at the age of 6 by my father, who was an accomplished player. He was always trying to bring the game to anybody who wanted to have a go.
He had and supplied all the equipment ie the court time, nets, feather shuttles and even the wooden rackets (as it was then) at hand. Under his tutelage, my game flourished and I always played with adults as there were no formal leagues, just informal badminton groups.
Throughout my schooling years, badminton was always a part of my sporting activities. I was involved in volleyball, tennis, table tennis and cross country running. Now golf has been added on this list and I play regularly throughout the year.
In 1972, I arrived in the UK and to my pleasant surprise, badminton was a very popular indoor sport. It was here that my game took off as there were clubs and leagues to take part in. And I have been playing ever since then, only taking a year out during this time.
In 1995, I got picked by Hampshire County Veteran Badminton team and have been playing for them since then with another break of a year, during which time, the term Veteran has now changed to Masters Badminton. Over the years, my men's doubles partner and I also competed in Open County Competitions, as well as the National Competition to test ourselves against other players. We even play almost every year in the All England Championship, which is the highlight of the year as it is the International Event held every year in England. This year, the competition was held for the 107th time. Even though I have played masters badminton regularly, I did not consider I was good enough to play for England. However, my partner Teli Mendhir, proposed that we push ourselves to try to play in the World Games at Pattaya, by playing in at least three qualifying tournaments, which we did. On the strength of these results, we applied for placements and to my pleasant surprise we were one of the four pairs picked to represent England. To say I was thrilled would be a major understatement! A lifelong ambition fulfilled.
A key part of being an active player is to keep practising and maintaining your skill set. This involves playing with quality players, keeping fit and most importantly, be injury free. A large number of players of advancing years retire due to injuries. I have regular Bowen therapy and massages pencilled in throughout the year just to keep myself supple and fit. I do not wait for an injury to happen before seeking help, rather being proactive to keeping myself active. Golf goes some way to helping, as I am using different muscles and exercising outdoors is also quite pleasant.
What I like about badminton is that anybody can have a go and, in the process, have a good physical work out. And you can keep this going no matter what your age or capability is. Nowadays, all you have to do is google badminton clubs in your locality who will inform you of their membership playing levels. For new starters you can find accredited Badminton England Coaches running coaching sessions for players of all abilities. An added benefit is that you feel calmer and stress free after doing physical exercise, something that certainly applied in my case. Any tension I might feel beforehand either in my mental state or just playing at this level, disappears after as I am doing such a physical workout.
My success in this sport has opened a lot of doors and I have made many friends over the years playing on the circuit. I have also played all over England in the various county competitions, as well in other countries like Spain, Greece, Croatia and even as far as Australia, and now this year, in Pattaya. My wife and my family have been my biggest supporters throughout my journey.”
Follow in Sam’s footsteps
We wish Sam and Teli every luck and good fortune in the World Games at Pattaya and hope you share your news on your return. If, like Sam, you have a passion for any sport, get in touch with our team to see if CSSC could help you achieve your dreams and follow your passions.