#Farming and badminton are worlds apart.
However, for farmer Henry Paynter,badminton is his second farm – at night.
He got hooked on badminton because it is one of the few sports which can be played indoors and at night.
The 66-year-old Paynter, who lives in Westbank, in the rural areas of British Columbine, Canada, is a farmer.
“Because we are farmers, we needed a sport that can be played at night, and preferably indoors. So, that was how I started to fall in love with badminton. Farming in the daytime and holding a racquet at night for recreation,” said Paynter.
The fact that his father, Henry O. Paynter, also played badminton helped the junior Henry to select the sport.
His father was a farmer as well.
Henry O. Paynter had gone into the Guinness World Records as the oldest badminton player in the world at the age of 98-year-old in 2012. Henry’s father died the same year because of a mild stroke.
“He was the oldest and toughest player I have played against, and there is still no one else who has beaten his record till today,” said Paynter proudly.
Before coming to Asia Pacific Masters Games 2018, Paynter has played in quite a number of tournaments around the world, including in the United States, England and India.
He was also the only Canadian to ever win an All England Masters badminton title. Paynter also won the Senior All England Masters tournament 6 times in a row from 2011 till 2016.
But his biggest achievement was inwinning the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Masters Mixed Doubles gold medal for the 65+ category in Cochin, India.
Despite his successin the Masters scene, Paynter still looks forward to play and win more.
“Every year, I consider myself as just a beginner.”
