Against All Odds: How Badminton Crotone’s Midnight Market Training Led to National Glory

By Daniel Richardson, Editor-in-Chief – Archysport

CROTONE, Italy — The fluorescent lights flicker over empty vegetable stalls and shuttered fishmongers. Somewhere between the discarded cardboard boxes and the scent of yesterday’s produce, two young men in sweat-drenched shirts are lunging, smashing and sprinting. This is not a late-night workout gone rogue—it is the only training ground Badminton Crotone has.

Last weekend, the club’s relentless midnight regimen paid off in the most public way possible: a historic double gold and silver sweep at the national “Challenge Città di Paola” tournament, a milestone that has sent ripples through Italy’s badminton community and beyond.

The Triumph in Paola

On April 26, 2026, at the municipal sports hall in Paola, Calabria, the duo of Hossain Md Imam and Rahman Shahriar claimed the top spot in the men’s doubles final. Their victory wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. Behind them on the podium stood teammates Alessio Cimino and Hossan Hanwar, who secured silver in the same category.

The tournament, sanctioned by the Italian Badminton Federation (FIBa), drew teams from across the country. Badminton Crotone, a club without a dedicated gym, left with two of the three medals awarded in the men’s doubles division—a feat made more remarkable by the conditions under which they prepared.

Training Between the Stalls

Since February 2026, the club’s athletes have been training in the open-air market of Crotone, a port city on the Ionian Sea. With no indoor facility available, they occupy the space between midnight and 4 a.m., when the market is closed and the streets are quiet. Rain or wind, the routine is the same: nets strung between lampposts, shuttlecocks flying over produce crates, and the constant hum of the city’s nightlife as their soundtrack.

“We don’t have a choice,” said one athlete in an interview with local outlet *Il Crotonese*, speaking on condition of anonymity. “If we want to compete, we have to train. And if the only time we can do that is when the market is empty, then that’s when we train.”

The club has repeatedly appealed to local authorities for access to a proper gym, but so far, those requests have gone unanswered. In the meantime, they’ve turned adversity into advantage, developing agility and reflexes honed by the uneven terrain and unpredictable lighting of their makeshift court.

A Partnership That Made It Possible

Badminton Crotone’s success wasn’t achieved in isolation. The club has formed a critical alliance with the Lamezia Terme Badminton Association, a more established group located about 120 kilometers away in Catanzaro province. Through this partnership, the Crotone athletes have been able to access official courts for tournaments and receive technical support, including coaching and equipment.

“Without Lamezia, we wouldn’t have been able to compete at this level,” said a club spokesperson. “They’ve given us the platform to prove what we can do. Now, we just demand the tools to do it consistently.”

Why This Matters Beyond the Podium

Badminton Crotone’s story is more than a feel-good underdog tale—it’s a case study in resilience and the power of grassroots sport. In a country where badminton is still fighting for recognition alongside football, basketball, and volleyball, the club’s success highlights the potential of communities often overlooked by mainstream sports infrastructure.

Their victory also raises urgent questions about equity in Italian amateur sports. While professional leagues and elite academies receive funding and media attention, clubs like Badminton Crotone—operating on shoestring budgets and sheer determination—are left to improvise. Their triumph in Paola is a reminder that talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not.

The Numbers Behind the Story

• 2 medals won by Badminton Crotone at the Challenge Città di Paola tournament (gold and silver in men’s doubles).
• 4 a.m. the time training sessions typically finish in the Crotone market.
• 120 km distance between Crotone and Lamezia Terme, where the club accesses official courts through its partnership.
• 0 indoor training facilities available to the club in Crotone.

What’s Next for Badminton Crotone?

The club’s immediate focus is on maintaining momentum. With no change in their training conditions expected in the short term, the athletes will continue their midnight sessions, preparing for the next round of regional and national tournaments scheduled for late May and June.

Off the court, the club is renewing its push for a permanent training facility. A petition, launched in early April, has already gathered over 2,000 signatures from local residents and sports advocates. “We’re not asking for a stadium,” said one athlete. “Just a roof, a floor, and a net. That’s all we need to keep competing.”

For now, the pod in Paola stands as proof of what can be achieved—even when the odds are stacked against you.

Key Takeaways

• Historic Win: Badminton Crotone won gold and silver in men’s doubles at the national Challenge Città di Paola tournament.
• Unconventional Training: The club trains between midnight and 4 a.m. In a local market due to lack of indoor facilities.
• Critical Partnership: Collaboration with Lamezia Terme Badminton Association provided access to official courts and coaching.
• Grassroots Impact: Their success highlights the challenges faced by amateur sports clubs in Italy, particularly in underserved regions.
• Next Steps: The club is campaigning for a permanent training facility while preparing for upcoming tournaments.

How to Follow Badminton Crotone

For updates on the club’s progress, upcoming tournaments, and facility campaigns:

• Visit the official Italian Badminton Federation (FIBa) website for tournament schedules and results.
• Follow local Calabrian sports outlets such as *Il Crotonese* and *Crotonenews* for coverage of the club’s activities.
• Support the club’s petition for a training facility by sharing their campaign on social media using the hashtag #PalestraPerCrotone.

Have you ever trained in unconventional spaces to pursue a sport? Share your story in the comments below or tag us on social media. For more stories of resilience in sports, explore our dedicated series.