The team finally have the whole team for a training session

Dear friends and readers

I am still left with blogging for the 2013 Under 15s team as no parent has stepped up. I had to go with Annie and Tyz to Langford at 930 am as the team was meeting at 10 am.

Everyone was there by the time we arrived. Tyz has been helping with the Under 15s team in their training. Annie is the High Performance manager and has been turning up to see how the team trains.

I decided to tag along this morning to see where the team was going.

The coach for the team is Eric Loh. Eric is doing a great job as he is organised and very motivating for the team.

Sok Teoh who is Kai Cheng's dad is the manager. In fact when the team arrives in Sydney, he will have to double up as coach and manager. That's because Eric has to stay in Perth. As I said previously, I am sure he will do a great job as his heart is in it.

Julien Bradford who is Louise Bradford's dad will be the team umpire.   Daphne's mum will also be traveling as chaperone and known or unknown, she will also end up as cook.

Sok Teoh , Manager

Eric Loh ,Coach

Juliene Bradford , Umpire

Ying Xiang Lin 

Kai Chen Teoh

Jasper  Tan

Geri May Nichols

Louise Bradford

Daphne Wan

The Bradfords have to travel from Bunbury every week. Such support for his daughter. Julian will  also be also  traveling to Sydney as the umpire.

All these children have to thank their parents for the support the parents give to their badminton dreams.

I am most impressed with the Wans. Dad is a taxi driver. Although coming from a modest background, I can see how much he is willing to sacrifice for his daughter. Daphne's mum is also always there to support Daphne.

It reminds me of my dad, god bless his soul. He was also a humble taxi driver and yet he managed to raise 10 kids. The things our parents do for their children.

Sok Teoh's other son, Kai Jieh has also been very supportive of his brother and the team. He has been helping out with the coaching every week.


Today was actually the first time the whole team had the training as a team.

They also looked good with their uniforms.

The team with supporting parents and helpers

I managed to get interviews with the kids. It is always such a pleasure to see how the children mature as players from representing their state. The players should all be very proud that they are representing WA, their chosen home.

The team for 2013

Dear friends and readers

I was hoping that I was able to hand over the Under 15s blog to a new parent whose child is in the 2013 team. Alas, it is yet to happen.

I do feel the responsibility to blog about what has been happening.

From my interviews, I know that this Under 15s nominations saw the most number of players nominate. There were 6 boys and 6 girls that nominated for 3 boy positions and 3 girl positions.

The selectors had a tough time but finally decided on:

Boys:

Ying Xiang Lin.
Kai Chen Teo
Jasper Tan.

Girls:

Gerimay Nicolas
Louise Bradford
Daphne Wan

Xiang was ranked 3rd last year in the  Under 15s event. I expect that Kai Chen and Jasper have a good chance of being ranked too this year.

Xiang is looking to be ranked No. 1. He has been working hard.

As far as the girls are concerned . I think Geri May has a good chance of getting a ranking.

The other 2 girls are also taking part in their first national event. It will be such a lesson. They will learn so much.

For parents who are new to state teams, they need to read a bit more of the old blogs to find out what is a ranking, what is a seeding, how the team events are organised etc.

I am hoping the team will be able to get a team medal.

The manager is Sok Teoh. He is great for the job as his heart is in badminton.

The coach is supposed to be Eric while in Perth with Bradford's dad as the coach when in the comp. I do not know how that will work.

Sok Teoh has suggested getting his son Kai Jieh as the asst coach. It is a good idea but it depends on what the BAWA board thinks. I support the idea and hope BAWA sees so too. The poor guy is supposed to be manager and coach and fund raiser? Give him a break.

The heartache story was of Ryan Courtie not making the team after giving up a spot in his table tennis state team. To his credit, he returned to the Elite squad training last Thursday. We will see great things from Ryan, I am sure.

Jasper managed to get into the team with his doubles skills. It reminds me of Tyzton, my son and how he was always the team reserve as his singles skills were not as great as his doubles skills.

He went on to represent Australia in the Junior category.

I know that the road ahead for the manager is going to be difficult.

I am still trying to find out who will blog?  Am I still the blogger? I guess if there is no alternative, I can fill the role and give updates as best as I can.


I also recently received more information regarding the High Performance team that has been training under YuLi Xheng.

The High Performance Team is managed by Annie Sim. They train prospective champions that will represent Western Australia. The team has been training for over 2 mths.

YuLi is no newcomer to the BAWA scene. She has been running her own academy called An-Yu Badminton Academy. She has also been coaching the State's Under 17s team for the last 2 competitions.

Info on the academy can be found at http://an-yubadminton.blogspot.com.au/

Zheng Yuli (Chinese: 郑昱鲤) is a retired female badminton player from China.
She earned a bronze medal as a semifinalist at both the 1985 IBF World Championships and 1987 IBF World Championships in women's singles, dropping three set matches in each case to her compatriots Han Aiping and Li Lingwei respectively.
She won the women's singles at the Japan Open in 1984 and at the Denmark Open in 1984 and 1986. Zheng played on Uber Cup (women's international) championship teams for China in 1986 and 1988.

With that kind of pedigree, I am sure the players in the High Performance team will do well. As testament to YuLi's great work, these are recent results from the State championship.

High Performance U15s Squad Results

Higgs Trophy – 16^th & 17^th July 2013   

U15 Team Winners: 

1.       Gold: Team Mighty:  Gerimay Nicolas, Kai Chen Teoh, Jasper Tan

2.       Silver: Team Powerful : Daphne Wan, Ying Xiang Lin, Ryan Courtie

3.       Bronze: Team Dynamic:  Nisargi Prajapati, Ee Kiat Beh, Matthew Teoh

U13 Team Winner: Gold : Team Panther – Ceinwena Yong & team mates ( non HP players) 

WA Junior State Championships  - 18^th & 19^th July 2013

Girls U13

1.       State Champion: Daphne Wan

Girls’ Doubles U13

1.       State Champions: Daphne Wan and Ceinwena Yong

Boys U15

1.       State Champion: Ying Xiang Lin

2.       Silver:  Ee Keat Beh

Boys Doubles U15

1.       State Champions:  Ying Xiang Lin & Kai Chen Teoh

Girls U15

1.       State Champion:  Gerimay Nicolas

2.       Silver: Louise Bradford

3.       Nisargi Prajapati

Girls Doubles U15:

1.       State Champions: Gerimay Nicolas & Louise Bradford

2.       Silver:  Nisargi Prajapati & partner ( Sherlyn Ng, non HP player)

Mixed Doubles U15:

1.       State Champions: Ying Xiang Lin & Gerimay Nicolas

2.       Silver:  Ryan Courtie & Louise Bradford

3.       Kai Chen Teoh & Daphne Wan   

Till I blog again, good night.