The 66-year-old Morley resident, who arrived in Australia in 1971 from Malaysia, began playing badminton socially in 1979 as a recreational pastime while working on the mines near Karratha.
Even when he returned to Perth, he did not have time to play the sport at a competitive level because of work commitments. Instead, Mr Lourdes continued to play socially at the Morley Recreation Centre.
When Masters Games organisers asked him what grade badminton he played, he had to explain that he had never been graded.
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READ NOW‘They asked me if I wanted to participate in division one, two or socials,’ Mr Lourdes said.
‘I said I would give division one a go. The division one players are all former State players, but I took a gamble and thought I would give it a go. I didn’t know my own standard and I have not been graded. I just go and play.’
He placed first to win gold in his age group (65 and over) and was then invited to play in a doubles team.
‘I was asked if I would play doubles with a man from Sydney because he was looking for a partner,’ Mr Lourdes said.
‘It was a last-minute thing; I had never met him or played badminton with him before, but I said yes and we won.’
His wife Leina and youngest daughter Jesmera travelled with him to the Games in Geelong and they were his greatest inspiration and motivation for participating.
‘My middle daughter Asha wanted to join us, but she was unable to get time off work,’ he said.
‘I said to Leina and Jesmera that I would try to win for my grandson Bastien, who turns one on November 1.
‘We are going to travel to Sydney to see him and my eldest daughter Cresandra for his birthday.’