- 1 Aug 08, 02:22 PM
Macau
Watching the British badminton team warm up is exhausting in itself.
A bit of "keepy-uppy" is followed by what can only be described as a frenetic synchronised dance.
It's only then that the fencing-like parry and thrust of practice begins.
Lightning reflexes, power and timing are paramount as the shuttlecock whistles over the net in a blur of rackets.
The gymnasium reverberates to the sound of playful banter. The team are in high spirits.
Four years ago Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson gripped the nation as they took silver, and very nearly gold, in the mixed doubles.
Now they are back to try and go one better but they have stiff opposition - and they are only a few feet away in the form of British team-mates Donna Kellogg and Anthony Clark.
While Robertson has been nursing a serious ankle problem - fully fixed he tells me following an operation - Kellogg and Clark have stolen a march, denying the reigning world champions the European title.
The bad news is both pairs have lousy first round draws in Beijing, against the mighty Chinese.
"Bad for them, you mean," flashes back Emms in a manner akin to her instinctive net play. "They won't want to play us, all the pressure is on them." Kellogg and Clark are just as bullish even though they've never beaten their opponents. "We're fitter, stronger, faster now" says Clark, sounding like the Bionic man.
So what price an all-British final? It could happen. "It would be brilliant, we're all friends," says Emms who's playing with Kellogg in the women's doubles, though I swore I saw a glint in her eye as she added, "I hope they'll be no dirty tricks!"
Another bunch targeting medals as well as err, targets, are the archers. Aside from shooting, archery is about the only sport I can think of where the secret of success lies in keeping absolutely still, so I was shocked to be greeted on arrival at the Macau University Football pitch, by the sight of the team grooving to the sounds of Girls Aloud, Beyonce and others as they prepared to practice. Wouldn't all that foot tapping scupper their aim?
"We don't even notice the music we're so in the zone", says Alison Williamson. "It's mainly there for the spectators, but it's useful to get used to it being there."
Our most celebrated archer, who claimed bronze in Athens may be on the cusp of her fifth Olympics but she's as hungry as ever; "I'm stubborn, I'm greedy and I'm in the best shape of my life."
Archery is a sport, like many others, which is much, much harder than it looks. As I stood on the shoulder of Larry Godfrey, the sport's version of Kevin Pietersen for his dyed-blond locks ("Though I'm no switch hitter" he assures me), I was struck by how tiny that target looked 70m away. Factor in a sudden gust of wind, perhaps one of those infamous Macau downpours and it's nigh on miraculous that they ever hit the damned thing, never mind the bullseye. But those who fall in love with it find it's under their skin for life.
Ask Simon Terry. After winning bronze in Barcelona in 1992 he quit. Now aged 34 he's back.
"Watching Alison Williamson win her bronze tickled a nerve. I dusted down my bow and arrows which had sat in the loft for 10 years, and decided I'd give qualifying a go. I never thought I'd get this far."
How much further could the comeback kid go? You can be sure they'll all be all aiming for Olympic glory.
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Comments
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It's funny you compare badminton to fencing - I've fenced seriously for many years, and play badminton as a complementary sport - the two go together perfectly.
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There are a few comments I'd like to make on the badminton bit. First, Robertson and Emms are former world champions yes, but not the REIGNING world champions. Please get your facts right in spite of your typical British optimism before every big sporting event. That "world champions" honour goes to Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir of Indonesia. Secondly...all-British final? Look, England did well at the Champions League this year, and being a Man Utd supporter I was really pleased with the final outcome. But even China themselves are not banking on all-Chinese finals. So please be a little practical and do not suggest something as far-fetched as an all-British mixed doubles final, ESPECIALLY since both British have not won anything major of late (European championships do not count as "major" in this Asian dominated sport). I'll give you something...the best European hope for a medal would be Tine Rasmussen in the women's singles, and unfortunately, she's not British.
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I'd like to pass comment on Keithhiew's post.
The reporter was putting the question to the players of a possible all-British final. It also states "it could happen". Indeed, there is no reason why it couldn't.
Although neither pair have won tournaments on the ss circuits, Antony and Donna have made it to finals and have very recently beaten the current World champions (the Indonesians!) and the top Chinese pair amongst others.
Both pairs have favourable 2nd round draws - they just have to get past the first round.
I have always found the British to be slighty pessamistic rather than showing "typical British optimism before every big sporting event". Particularly when we compare the Brits to the Americans for example. Why shouldn't we look towards the best possible outcome? You can only beat who is put in front of you and these players between them have beaten all your "favoured" Asian players. The suggestion of an all British final does not seem so far-fetched : optimistic but not far-fetched.
Come on Team GB!
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archery, badminton and fencing (sports mentioned in this article) are talentless rubbish, which is why just about nobody plays them
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nobody plays archery, badminton and fencing! - over 1100 archery clubs in the UK, over 10,000 fencers in the UK, 2,000,000 regular badminton players in the UK
speaking as somebody who "plays" archery, presume JimboJames1012 has never "played" - he would then know how hard it is to be so good as to be picked for the GB team, good luck to fellow Bowmen of Bruntwood member Charlotte Burgess - GB team member!
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