Juniors' Team and Skill competition is arriving again in May! On Saturday, May 2nd, 2026, a large group of young badminton enthusiasts will gather at Esport Center to compete as teams against other clubs and teams both on the badminton court and in various skill challenges.
In the Skill and Team Competition, a badminton team competition is played, as well as the "Taitokisa"= Skill competition, which includes a skills course and a badminton quiz. The competitions are separate and both are contested as teams. Almost all the age groups have separate hobby category and competitive category, meaning that players of all levels are welcome to the event! At the end of the day, all participants will receive a participation award, and the best performing teams will be awarded with team trophies. The event has always been extremely popular, a unique place for juniors to experience team play in badminton and spend a fun day with their club mates.
The following categories are played in the competition:
U9 (2018 born and younger)
U11, Hobby and Competitive categories (2016 & 2017)
U13, Hobby and Competitive categories (2014 & 2015)
U15, Hobby and Competitive categories(2012 & 2013)
Those participating in the competitive categories need a license, which can be bought through Suomisport. U9 category and hobby categories doesn't require a license. Hobby categories are very suitable for players who have been to less or no competitions, the level is moderate there. Having fun, learning new things and meeting new friends is more important than winning. Entry fee for U9 category is 10€ and for other categories 25€.
Registration for the competition happens through your own club. Ask your club's coach who will assemble the teams for your club (Tapion Sulka players registrations to Nella by email at nella@tapionsulka.fi at latest 19.4.). If your club cannot find a team for the junior's age group, it is recommended to contact other clubs if you could join their team. This is how it has been done for many years with players coming from smaller clubs, we try to get everyone into the competition who wants to join! Hopefully your coach can help you with this, or you can contact other clubs yourself.
During the day, lunch is available at the hall. Lunch must be booked in advance when registering! Chicken pasta + salad and bread are available, for €10. Allergies special dietaries are taken into account.
Summary of the important details
When: On Saturday 2.5.2026
Where: Esport Center, Koivu-Mankkaan tie 3, Espoo
What: Season's best junior event
How: Registrations through your own club. Remember to book lunch if you wish
For who: All juniors born in 2012 after, for all the experienced competitors, novice competitors and also hobby players
See you there!
Tapion Sulka thanks all badminton players for the past year and wishes everyone a joyful and badminton-filled New Year 2026!
The office will be closed from December 22, 2025 to January 2, 2026. We will respond to all messages at the beginning of the year and apologize for any possible delay in replies.
Tapion Sulka’s long-time executive director and coach, one of Finland’s top badminton players of the 1990s, Lasse Lindelöf, has passed away after a serious illness. Tapion Sulka mourns Lasse's energetic and joyful presence. Tapion Sulka ry extends its warm condolences to Lasse’s family and loved ones.
Lasse began playing badminton in 1979. He entered his first competition only at the age of 12. His first Finnish Championship title came in mixed doubles at the age of 17 in 1985. Altogether, alongside four mixed doubles national titles, he also won two men’s doubles championships.
Lasse was one of the absolute leading figures in Finnish badminton during the 1990s. He was a key link in the legendary team that took Finland’s men’s squad to the Thomas Cup finals in Jakarta in 1994. Over the course of his career, Lasse represented Finland in a total of 79 international matches. His trademark was quick and light footwork, which seemed to happen almost effortlessly. In Sulkapallo magazine, he was nicknamed “the weasel.”
Lasse began his coaching career in 1993, working at many levels from juniors to elite players. In 2012, he was appointed executive director of Tapion Sulka. Through his work and charisma, he supported the club’s growth into what it is today.
Lasse’s contribution to the club and its spirit was immense. He coached hundreds of current and former Tapion Sulka hobbyists and top players, igniting in them a deep passion for badminton and supporting their journeys to the highest level of the sport. In Lasse’s chest beat one of the greatest Tapion Sulka hearts.
Welcome to Tapion Sulka's Six-Week Badminton Courses! We offer Family Badminton for the little one's and family members as well as Beginner Course for Adults. The course includes six (6) training sessions at Esport Center, coaching, court rental, and shuttlecocks.
Family Badminton Courses - Thursdays 18:00–19:00 - price 75€
Beginner Course for Adults – Thursdays 20:00–21:00 - price 100€
Tapion Sulka has been steadily moving towards the future, developing both its coaching expertise and a strong, community-driven club culture. The club’s strategy is grounded in a humane, learning-oriented approach that combines high-performance sports with lifelong physical activity. The role of the new executive director is central to leading and developing this overall vision – with the responsibility of turning strategic goals into concrete actions in everyday operations and ensuring that the club continues to grow as a strong, influential, and sustainable force in Finnish badminton.
The recruitment process for a new executive director, conducted over the spring, has now been completed. The application round was highly competitive, with over 40 qualified candidates applying for the position. After two rounds of interviews, Tarja Arkio was selected for the role.
We’ll get to know Tarja better as the new season begins, but here’s a message from her as we head into summer:
"I’m truly excited to join Tapion Sulka on its journey. The club has a strong drive to grow and lead the way in Finnish badminton, and I believe we’ll achieve a lot together. And the foundation we’re building on is something to respect: for 65 years, this local Espoo-based club has not only offered high-quality activities for badminton enthusiasts, but also helped Finnish players reach the top level internationally. See you at the hall!"
The club’s development work continues with an even stronger focus on coaching
Tapion Sulka aims to become a forerunner in Finnish badminton – both in its club culture and coaching. In recent years, we have invested significantly in developing our coaching expertise and systems. Our coaches have participated in developing their expertise at university level as well as in national and international coaching programs. Throughout the season, we have also regularly organized coaches’ meetings and book clubs to support the professional development of our session coaches. Additionally, we actively use MIELI ry’s “Young Mind in Sports” materials to support the mental wellbeing of our young players.
We have refined our coaching philosophy by placing the athlete’s own learning at the center. Based on ecological dynamics theory, our training emphasizes the development of game understanding – helping players learn to read the game by observing their environment and making tactically sound decisions in response to in-game opportunities (affordances).
With these themes in mind, we look forward to continuing the work in the fall – but in the meantime, let’s enjoy some ice cream, sunshine, and well-earned summer days. See you back at the hall in August!
The fall training season begins on Monday, August 11th, 2025.
Registration will take place on Tapion Sulka's MyClub website. Check out the group options here: https://tapionsulka.fi/en/groups-and-sign-up/ and login to your MyClub account to book your place on time!
For new members: You can’t sign up for the groups before you are a member of the club. Find out more about becoming a member from the Join the club -page.
We are thrilled about the upcoming season and look forward to new experiences with you in the training groups. Our club officials and coaches are prepared to offer you high-quality coaching and unforgettable badminton experiences.
