MARCH 28 - Starting April 5, the CF National Sports Centre at CFB Borden will come alive as CF's top badminton and squash players from across Canada will compete for their championship titles.

The CF National Badminton Championship features mixed, open, senior and master divisions in singles and doubles categories. In individual play, seeded players are entered at either the top or bottom of the ladder and, if successful, will meet their most skilled opponents in the final games.

Veteran player, Petty Officer Second Class Richard Tremblay who has competed in 14 CF badminton national championships and will be playing for the Quebec region at the upcoming event calls the competition exciting.

"My expectation is fairly good although my worst enemy is the plastic bird," he said. "It is hard for me because I play all year round with feather birds. I only play with plastic during CF competitions."

Last year, the Quebec region secured it fourth straight national badminton championship title with 25 more points than its nearest challenger. The team finished with 110 points in tournament play leading to the final matches in the different divisions, followed by the Ontario region with 93 and in third place, the Prairies with 82. The Atlantic region team finished with 48 points and Pacific finished with 16.

The same format is used for squash. CF squash teams-representing Canada's five main regions--are made up of a maximum of the seven top players, four in open play category and one each in the under 30, master and ladies divisions.

"It is going to be a great tournament. The level of play has increased a lot and the people are more competitive," said Louie DeSouza, CF Squash chief official. "They are playing in civilian tournaments and they are taking lessons, so they are getting better. Way, way better."

At last year's championship event, the Ontario region squash team secured enough points in tournament play to win its second national team title. The squad finished with 103 points in tournament play leading to the final matches in the different divisions, followed by the Quebec region with 85 and in third place, the Atlantic with 68. The Prairie region team finished with 63 points and Pacific finished with 52.