USBEF Newsletter Issue #3
October 12, 2009
The United States Badminton Education Foundation works in cooperation with the USAB (the governing body of United States Badminton) to promote the growth and support of Badminton throughout our country. The USBEF was incorporated in the State of Massachusetts in 1967 and its Board Members consist of Badminton Players who serve voluntarily to “put something back into Badminton”. OUR MISSION STATEMENT — To establish and promote throughout the United States an educational program devoted to the development of Badminton as a means of healthful and physical fitness, to promote the recognition in schools, colleges, YMCA and other institutions with physical education programs of the carry-over benefits of Badminton, to give coaching and instructions to players throughout the U.S. Badminton in clinics and exhibitions which are in furtherance of educational objectives._____________________________________________________________
A LEGEND IN HIS OWN MIND
Presented by Jim Bosco-Written By Mel Wade, Senior Olympian
“You are old, Senior Olympian”, the young man said,
“And your hair is exceedingly white.
And yet you play badminton from morning to night.
Do you think at your age it is right?”
“In my youth,” said the sage, “I tried to find out
Just how could my life be invested?”
“Get into the rackets”. The Godfather said,
“So I followed just what he suggested.”
“You are old,” said the youth, “and I couldn’t help note
You seem to be starting to drool.
Has this something to do with the hours you spend
Swimming lap after lap in the pool?”
“In my youth,” said his father, “I was forced by my folks
To choose between swimming and badminton.
So I soon got a job as delivery boy
For a large pizza parlor in Bloomington.”
“You are old,” Senior Olympian, “yet in catching the ball,
You play softball with deftness unique.
Can I ask you, pray tell, how you developed so well.
Using such an abnormal technique?”
“In my youth I caught flies”, the old man replied,
“Til my hands were exceedingly messy
All in the hopes of learning the ropes
For recruitment by Otto Palesse.”
“You’re a star, dear old dad, in fashion as well.
So I want to hear what are the trends.
So please let me know, is it boxers or briefs?
What’s that you’re saying, ‘Depends’?”
“You are old, Senior Olympian, and compete every year
And yet you can’t seem to win.
You gave up your naps so you could run laps.
Are you quite off your rocker again?”
“We have heard”, said the son, some doubt in his voice,
“Of your glorious wins in the past.
Did you win all those races at record time paces
Or were you perhaps just half fast?”
“It is true”, said the legend, as he gloried in fame,
“You can trust all my exploits because
The older I get, the better I am
And of course, all the better I was.”
“You are old”, said the son,” and your medals are few
Yet you still have your eye on the prize.
Although you are fragile, you still are quite agile
And your rivals are dropping like flies.”
“My competitive thrill may be over the hill
And soon I will be very old
If I play enough years, I will run out of peers
And then I can ‘go for the gold’.”
________________________________________________________________
�
Steve Kearney
US Badminton Education Foundation, Inc.
3511 Camino Del Rio So.,
Suite 304
San Diego, CA 92108
March 2, 2009
Dear Steve:
Thank you for your kind letter representing the
US Badminton Education Foundation after receiving
my donation on behalf of Ms. Diane Hendrickson. The
pleasure has been all mine as gifting badminton in
the name of Ms. Hendrickson has been done with
such joy. On a large scale, members of the USAB
tend to be kept in the loop regarding many things.
However the fostering of badminton on a small
community level tends to be overshadowed by the
big thrill of younger players, especially those Olympic
or junior National bound.
Those of us affiliated with the senior athlete also
share remarkable accomplishments. After all, these
are the real heroes of the game…those greater than
50 years of age who walk onto the court able to truly
sustain the passion they held beginning years ago.
Ms Hendrickson has been a badminton enthusiast
since learning the game at a young age. During the
past years she has served her Tucson badminton
community by offering lessons several days a week
and also is at the helm as tournament director for the
local Senior Tucson Badminton qualifier and the
Arizona State Games. In all my years of competition,
since college, I have not experienced the level of
organization that Diane brings to tournament
organization. People will tell you, they have a hard
time warming up between tournament matches
because Diane’s “claim to fame” is the next match
on an empty court within 5 minutes. Can you imagine
such an endeavor?
Added to her list of growing accomplishments was
her generosity in providing the Tournament draw for
the inaugural event of the Huntsman Senior Games in
Utah in October 2008. Of course, like all of her
endeavors, this event went off without a hitch.
Please share this letter with anyone whom you feel
appropriately connected to USA Badminton and
the very best in your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Andrea Weiss
_________________________________________________________
HIDAYAT, GUNAWAN, BACH, AND RICE AWE U.S. OPEN CROWD
By Mary Ann Bowles
�
The big crowd present on Finals night at the 2009 Yonex/OCBC U.S. Open Grand Prix Championships at Don Chew’s Orange County Badminton Club July 11 was expecting an exciting evening-they were not disappointed. The U.S.’s Howard Bach/Eva Lee opened the evening with their Mixed Doubles match with Canada’s Alvin Lau/Xuelian Jiang. Bach/Lee displayed their overall court coverage, quick shots, and Bach’s thrilling jump smashes in a quick match, winning 21-13, 21-12.�
�
Canada’s Anna Rice met the U.S.’s Mona Santoso in the Women’s Singles final. Santoso got off to a quick start with her hard smashes and quick drops, but Rice’s consistency put her in the match and kept her there. Winning the first game, 21-15, Rice went on to capitalize on Santoso’s inconsistencies and prevailed in the second game as well, 21-9, to win her first U.S. Open title.
�
The crowd was then set for Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat and his Men’s Singles match with Chinese Taipei’s Hsuan Yi Hsueh. The shuttle star put his opponent to the test with his floating footwork, numerous spinning net tumbles, and thunderous smashes. Hsueh tried to stay in the match, but came up short, 21-15, 21-16. Hidayat awed the crowd the entire week by losing no games during the tournament. A standing ovation greeted the shuttlers at the match’s end, and Hidayat was generous with smiles and photo opportunities.�
�
The U.S. and Canada faced off in the Women’s Doubles final with the U.S.’s Ying Chen/Yun (Grace) Peng facing Canada’s Ruilin Huang/Xuelian Jiang. The U.S. team took the first game, 21-14, but the young Canadians stayed in the long rallies and hard hitting to win the second and third games, 21-16, 21-11. They were thrilled to win their first title.
�
In the night’s finale match, 2005 World Champions Howard Bach/Tony Gunawan met Austria’s Jurgen Koch/Peter Zauner. Quick drives and hammering smashes were the order of the match, and the Austrians had no answers for the relentless pounding of the U.S. team. The match was an awesome finish for the crowd’s heroes, 21-12, 21-9.
�
Results:
�
MS – Taufik Hidayat (IND) def. Hsuan Yi Hsueh, (TAI) 21-15, 21-16
WS – Anna Rice (CAN) def. Mona Santoso (USA) 21-15, 21-9
MD – Bach/Guanwan (USA) def. Koch/Zauner (AUS) 21-12, 21-9
WD – Huang/Jiang (CAN) def. Chen/Peng (USA) 14-21, 21-16, 21-11
XD – Bach/Eva Lee (USA) def. Lau/Jiang (CAN) 21-13, 21-12
| 2009 National Senior Olympics By Joyce Jones |
|
The National Senior Olympics were held July 31-August 15, 2009 at Stanford University . What a beautiful University! But the badminton facility was not too great. The walls were light, and there were lots of window and glass doors, which made it very difficult to see. There were 13 courts in 2 buildings. The secondary building with 4 courts had the air conditioning blowing the bird around the first 3 days. They said they couldn’t turn it off, but managed to do just that the last 3 days. The “spoiled” players from Manhattan Beach had the most difficulty adjusting. The majority of us who have to play under those conditions all the time didn’t have too much of a problem!
The badminton tournament took place from August 1-6. The scheduling was a challenge with the new system “Rail Station” being used, but Steve Kearney, tournament director, was miraculously able to get all the matches played. The Rail Station software will also be used for the USAB membership program, as well as rankings for adults, juniors, and seniors.�
�
There were 225 players entered in singles, 246 in doubles and 212 in mixed, with lots of tough competition! Everyone had a good time regardless of conditions, and always enjoy greeting old friends. We always breathe a sigh of relief when there are no serious injuries!
�
Next year will be the State Qualifying year for the 2011 National Senior Olympics to be held in Houston . See you there?
�
If you would like to check out all the results go to http://www.2009seniorgames.org/, and click on results.