The recent Youth Olympic Games showcased a remarkable display of confidence and determination from players representing nations with no significant badminton background. Although Asia continued its dominance in the sport, it was refreshing to witness competitors from non-traditional badminton countries defy the odds and test themselves at such a high level.
These players face numerous challenges, including the lack of proper training facilities, the need to balance their studies, and limited financial resources. However, their passion for badminton has propelled them to overcome these obstacles. Many have taken the bold step of relocating to badminton powerhouses or seeking training opportunities at clubs in Asia and Europe.
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One such example is Luis Ramon Garrido from Mexico. Introduced to badminton by his father, a sports teacher, Garrido realized that he needed to leave Mexico to improve his game. He reached out to Guatemalan player Pedro Yang, who connected him with renowned coach Michael Kjeldsen in Copenhagen. Two years ago, Garrido made the move to Denmark and now competes for Greve in the second division league. He pursues his education online, and his university sponsors his trips to international tournaments.
According to Garrido, “It’s really hard to be motivated in Mexico. I’m from a country where badminton is not recognized. I didn’t have any support. So I had to move to Denmark. That’s how I keep my motivation, training every day at Kjeldsen’s International Badminton Academy.”
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Maja Pavlinic from Croatia is another player with ambitious aspirations. Despite the constraints of school, Pavlinic dreams of becoming a professional badminton player. She plans to join a club in Bordeaux, France, to further enhance her skills while continuing her education.
Pavlinic trained for a month at the Indonesian club Djarum before the Youth Olympics and firmly believes that access to full-time training could significantly improve her performance, similar to that of her Asian opponents.
Abdelrahman Abdelhakim from Egypt also aims to participate in the Olympics. He trained in Malaysia before the Youth Olympic Games, an experience that elevated his game. Abdelhakim emphasizes the importance of training, stating, “The main difference between us and the Asian players is training. I have school and university to attend; I don’t have time for badminton. I was in Malaysia for a month, and I improved. I wish I could be a full-time professional. The circumstances are not conducive in my country, but I will do my best to keep focusing on training. I want to play in the next few Olympic Games.”
Among the standout performers at the Youth Olympics was Ygor Coelho De Oliveira from Brazil. Despite coming from a club with minimal infrastructure, Oliveira impressed audiences with his performance against World Junior champion Lin Gui Pu of China. Local media extensively covered his journey, and Oliveira even had the opportunity to train with former World champion Sun Jun.
Oliveira hopes to return to China for further training, believing that the Rio Olympics will boost badminton’s popularity in Brazil.
Undoubtedly, the path ahead for these players will be challenging, requiring them to step outside their comfort zones and leave behind family and friends. As Garrido aptly describes, “I come from a hot country, and it can get really cold in Denmark. It was tough moving to Copenhagen because you have to do everything for yourself. But if you love badminton, you have to take every opportunity – whatever it takes. One year ago, my goal was to be in Nanjing. I took the chance. I want to be one of the world’s best players. I want to work hard. Let’s see what happens.”
Garrido can find inspiration in the remarkable achievements of Spain’s Carolina Marin, who became the World champion in badminton. Training opportunities in Indonesia and Thailand helped Marin overcome the challenges of coming from a country without a strong badminton tradition.
As players like Garrido witnessed the thrilling events at the Li-Ning BWF World Championships, they are likely to believe, “If Carolina can, I can too!”
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