ST Tutor, Ethiopian Badminton Federation
Childhood Days
I was born and raised in the city of Hawassa in Ethiopia. Various sports were played in my village. I used to play handball and badminton.
Early Experience of Badminton
When I was a primary school student, some coaches came to introduce badminton. That was about 25 years ago. When I saw it for the first time, it looked so different from other sports, and that made me want to learn more about it. It was an unforgettable experience.
Getting Competitive
I started training three times a week, an hour a day. After two years of training, I started participating in competitions; I gradually moved up in level from local to zonal to regional and national. I also started coaching at the national and international levels. I have been trained by international coaches sent to Ethiopia and have taken Shuttle Time Tutor training, and I try to give back to the sport by promoting it.
Giving Back
Badminton is the love of my life. I have gained so much from badminton. Through competitions and training, I have had the opportunity to get to know various professionals, coaches and technical officials, and been exposed to the values, culture and lifestyle of other countries.