Badminton
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BADMINTON NEWS
Badminton Medals Awarded
By Terri Jones
Badminton team medals were handed out Sunday on the last day of competition at the Greater Vernon 2012 BC Winter Games. Taking home the gold was Zone 5 Vancouver- Squamish. Silver went to Zone 4 Fraser River Delta while bronze was taken by the host Zone 2 Thompson-Okanagan.
The Most Sportsmanlike Team award, which characterizes honour, etiquette and good behavior, was awarded to Zone 1 Kootenays. All the team members come from Invermere. Coach Audrey Mantyka said, "This is the first time many of these kids have ever held a racquet. We haven't had any wins but they have improved immensely. The team has a great attitude."
The Fair Play award for great work etiquette was awarded to Zone 1 player Jessica Marcus of Radium and Jeffrey So of Vancouver.
Zone 4 coaches Jackie Chan and Chris Kwee from Richmond said their players put in a good effort and came a long way. Five of them had never played in a tournament before. They were especially pleased with the boys doubles gold won over stiff competition. They noted that Larissa Franco, 14, from Richmond, was very impressive. "She has only been playing one year and has never played mixed doubles before this tournament. She played very well."
Along with the team bronze Zone 2 finished the individual rounds with two silver medals in mixed doubles and ladies doubles and a bronze in girls singles. Coach Robbyn Hermitage said, "The bronze medal in the team competition is a wonderful end to a great BC Games. The kids have exceeded our expectations."
Vancouver-Squamish took home the largest medal haul of team and individual medals. The team won gold in the Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Only Zone 4 Fraser River Delta spoiled their chances of a clean sweep in the gold medal individual events. In a close match Clement Chow, 13 and Marco Ling, 12, both from Richmond, and cousins, put in an amazing performance in their first big tournament. After picking up the gold Ling said, "I have learned a lot from the other competitors and sharing skills. I am both surprised by our performance and proud. "
Badminton Quotes From Final Day
By Terri Jones
1st place – Gold – Zone 5 Vancouver Squamish
Coach Julien Li was really impressed with the performance of his team. "We are where we want to be. The team has met my goals. Coach Jessica Leung said, I thought the kids performed really well. It was a good team effort. They were really focused on the matches and tried their very best.
2nd Place – Silver – Zone 4, Fraser River Delta
Coach Jackie Chan and Chris Kwee from Richmond said, "Our kids worked hard, put in a good effort and have come far." Five of the players have never played a tournament before.
The stand out performance was in the men's doubles. They took gold against some very strong competition. The mixed doubles team also did very well. We were also impressed with Larissa Franco, 14 years old from Richmond. Chan said, "She really impressed us. She has only been playing one year and has never played mixed doubles before this tournament. She was anxious at the beginning, but she played very well. "
3rd Place – Bronze – Zone 2 – Okanagan-Thompson
The team finished the individual rounds with two silver in mixed doubles and ladies doubles and 1 bronze in ladies singles.
Coaches Robbyn Hermitage and David Crawford from Salmon Arm said, "The team has played extraordinarily well. There has been tough competition form the coast so to medal the performances had to be outstanding." Hermitage said, the bronze medal in the team competition is a wonderful end to a great BC Games. The kids have exceeded our expectations."
Most sportsmanlike team,which characterizes honour, etiquette and good behaviour, was awarded to the zone 1 badminton team from the Kootenays.
The Fair Play award for great work etiquette was awarded to Jeffrey So, from zone five and Jessica Marcus from Zone 1.
Badminton Overview
By Alan Sherbinin
The atmosphere at Clarence Fulton Secondary School in Vernon is boisterous as the supportive spectators cheer every badminton shot. And, with four courts active, there is plenty of action to see. The athletes were clad in an array of Zone colours making the school gymnasium a rainbow of motion.
Photo - Nick Sherbinin
The Zone 7 (North West) team is capably represented by a group of guys from Terrace: Ethan Kenmuir (aged 13 years), Liam Clunas (aged 13), Evan Veldman (aged 12), and Jordan Grootendorst, who celebrated his 14th birthday at the BC Winter Games (he did get cake!). The boys were at full volume clapping encouragement to the other boys and girls from northern B.C., identified by their purple team shirts.
Unlike many of the athletes who experienced long bus rides to Vernon, this team enjoyed a flight directly from Terrace to Kelowna followed by a quick bus trip to deliver them to the badminton venue at the school. The guys did not mind the accommodations – sleeping on mats on the floor of a school classroom was even better camping, noting that it was great to have a solid roof and indoor plumbing!
Kenmuir enjoys "meeting new people" and the opportunity to "learn new techniques" from his peers. Clunas stated that "smashing birds" is part of the fun of badminton. He thinks the BC Winter Games is an amazing experience. His teammates gleefully agree.
Marco Ling and Clement Chow of Richmond won the boy's doubles gold medal, defeating Ethan Ma and Maric Son of Vancouver.
Badminton Buddies
By Alan Sherbinin
Kelowna-based teammates Leigh Kiryliuk and Claudia Lauretta will have some medals to show for their BC Winter Games experience. Kiryliuk won bronze in the girl's single category in exciting closely match 21-18, 16-21, 21-18. Lauretta earned silver
Photo - Nick Sherbinin in doubles mixed with Garrin McDonnell of Salmon Arm bested by the gold medal winners Fiona Li and John Tam of Vancouver 21-10, 21-17.
Both girls, aged 13, like that badminton is challenging and keeps them active. Kiryliuk has seven years of badminton experience. She also plays basketball, softball, and volleyball. Plus, she is an avid piano player. Currently a grade 8 student at Springvalley Middle School, Kiryliuk hopes to be a zoologist someday given her love of animals.
Lauretta has played badminton for fewer years, but she too participates in other sports including tennis and swimming. She states that this event is "fabulous" and it allows her the opportunity to "improve her skills and take the sport to the next level". She views the Games as a prelude to the Olympics as she would like to continuing playing, and perhaps someday coach, badminton.
The girls are as cheery and bright as their red team colours. They are great representatives – and winners – for Zone 2 (Okanagan).
Badminton – A Sport for All
By Alan Sherbinin
Nathan Evanoff describes badminton as a "really fun sport, played all over the world". The articulate 11-year-old from Invermere is a member of the Zone 1 (Kootenays) badminton team, along with four other boys and three girls. The group cannot be 
Photo - Nick Sherbininmissed in their brilliant yellow shirts. Evanoff has been playing the sport for about one year and believes it "improves hand / eye coordination". Hopefully, concentration is improved too as the athletes focus on returning the badminton shuttles before an enthusiastic crowd at the Clarence Fulton Secondary School gymnasium.
Evanoff thinks the BC Winter Games is a great event – and one he could experience with his mom who came along as a chaperone and cheerleader. He enjoys the chance to meet other players. Overall he believes that it is "great for kids to get together and play all sports".
Badminton – A Confidence Builder
By Alan Sherbinin
According to 12-year-old Sarah Chan, badminton "gives you confidence". She explains that you learn to never give up – there is 
Photo - Nick Sherbininalways a chance to win. Chan first picked up a racquet two years ago and continues to practice three times per week. She competes in both singles and mixed doubles categories, winning both of her matches on Friday February 24.
Chan is a grade 7 student at Pitt River Middle School in Port Coquitlam. Accompanied by her mom, she joined the other Zone 3 (Fraser Valley) athletes for the bus ride from the lower mainland to Vernon to participate in the BC Winter Games. She notes that her older sister and younger brother stayed at home with her dad.
When not participating in badminton – or other sports like volleyball and basketball – Chan just likes to hang out with her friends and family. But clearly she is focussed on badminton now. She describes it as an interesting game, noting "you use your skills, your eyes, your fingers, and more".
"I like the experience of competing with people from all over B.C." Chan explains – confidently.
