Crossminton is a young sport that has begun to actively develop in Russia. There are also his admirers among metro builders: at the recent VDNKh Cup in this discipline, the deputy chief engineer of Tunnel-2001, Sergei Borisenko, took an honorable second place.
The game resembles badminton, and also includes elements of tennis and squash. One of its main features is well reflected by its former name – Speedminton. It's all about a heavy and aerodynamic shuttlecock, which during flight reaches and maintains speeds of up to 300 km/h. There are also “slower” modifications, so this sport is also suitable for children. Crossminton can be played almost anywhere, as its creator Bill Brandes intended: thanks to the absence of a net and the excellent stability of the shuttlecock in the wind.
You can try yourself in a new sport for free at VDNKh: the Russian Crossminton Federation conducts regular training sessions free of charge on weekends during the warm season. Classes are held on marked courts for scoring games according to all the rules; various tournaments are organized for players. This is a great opportunity to become more than just an amateur and become one of the leaders in a growing trend. In addition, according to Sergei Borisenko, Federation President Anna Osipova pays great attention to ensuring that a community is formed around Crossminton. The metro builder himself has been a member for two years and met his other half on the court.
Borisenko is interested in other sports and invites his colleagues to join in the active pastime. For example, in the winter season, crossminton can replace pickleball, which we talked about in the Metrostroyevets newspaper, No. 9, 2023.