IBF World Training Centre——Road to Beijing 2008
http://www.gzba.org 2006-07-11 14:22:28

    Chinese Version 中文版

IBF World Training Centre
Road to Beijing 2008
29 June 2006
Story by Sarah MacMaster, Canada

    It's June 2006 and the road to Beijing has begun in Saarbrücken , Germany . This, along with our motto “Olympics is Everyday” is our motivation for the next two years of hard training.

    A total of 18 of the best players from 14 countries were selected from numerous camps that were held this past year in China , Bulgaria and Germany . The following players from around the world were selected to train here in Saarbrücken; Petr Koukal (CZE), Raju Rai (USA), Rodrigo Pacheco (PER), Kennie Asuncion (PHI), Kevin Cordon (GUA), Kestitus Naviskas (LTU), Niluka Karunaratne (SRI), Larisa Griga (UKR), Jeanine Cicognini (SUI), Claudia Rivero (PER), Sarah MacMaster (CAN), Kristina Ludikova (CZE), Olga Konon (BLR), Karen Foo Kune (MRI), Raul Must (EST), Kennevic Asuncion (PHI).

    This IBF World Training Center is under the direction of Mr. Gunther Huber, IBF Development Performance Director. Mr. Kim Young Man is the IBF Head Coach and along with Mr. Huber, they run an exceptional programme combining their experience and knowledge. He is assisted by two younger coaches, Per-Henrik Croona(SWE) and Kim Ji Hyun(KOR).

    The Official Opening of the IBF World Training Center was held on June 14, 2006. Many important and distinguished guests were involved. The Center was honoured to have present, Mr. Punch Gunalan, IBF Deputy President; Dr. Thomas Bach, IOC Vice-President and President of German DOSB; Mrs. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Minister of Sport Saarland; Mr. Gerd Meyer, President Sport Saarland; Mr. Tom Bacher, President Badminton Europe;

Prof. Dieter Kespohl, President Badminton Germany and IBF Council Member; Mr. Kei Yanagi from Yonex Europe and Mr. Yoshihiro Yano from Yonex Germany.

    Following the Opening of the Training Centre, the programme welcomed back the players once again with a dose of Mr. Kim Young Man's hard training sessions. However, this time round the training has been different compared to the training experienced by the players during the intake camps throughout the past year.

    These sessions have been more focused towards individual training andon-court practice. Also, the focus is on the development of the players over a course of a two-year period compared to the 1-2 month intake camps. The atmosphere of the center has also changed.

    During the intake camps, all the players contributed to a very competitive atmosphere, as all were fighting for a chance to come here again. This time, the players have all come back to Saarbrücken, to be part of a team focused on improving and helping each other reach their goals.

    The intensity is still present in the training sessions, but all the players are bonding together to help one another both on and off the court. Everybody is very excited and grateful to have the opportunity to improve as a player and as a person. We are all motivated to achieve the ultimate dream of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.