Wimbledon open.Did you see ?

[Darrenh]

The doubles for me was Quality.That pair that won it were a class act and ive never heard of them.
I must admit that they looked like they have been training hard for months now to beat that quality England line up.

[Khalid]

Yeup I saw it. I was very impressed by them both.

I thought Peter Knowles had retired, maybe he came down for a friendly game or two with his friend who I had never heard of before.

I also thought Peter Knowles was a singles player so was quite suprised to see him playing doubles and even more suprised when he won the challenger tournament.

Maybe he should be playing doubles for England with his partner Neil Waterman I think his name was.

[Darrenh]

The small one with the big beer gut was faster than he looked but it just shows what momentum can do when you get your body weight behind the shuttle.
They certainly showed those young England lads who think they know it all whats what.
Back to the drawing board younsters?

[TonyBear]

Dear everyone,

I went down to Wimbledon Rackets and Fitness Club today to watch the finals as well.

It was very interesting to see the final rounds of singles and doubles for men , they make it look so easy.

The doubles pair must do some special training, they were so quick and sharp. Are they part of the BAofE training set up ?

I could not see their name in their listings for World Class Players or potential players ?

The singles seemed a more closely contested match I think it was R Ouseph who lost out to N Rice.

[ObiWan]

Yep,watched it myself and Pete Knowles looked the best player on court.Very controlled,reading the game beautifully and came in with some crunching smashes when the heat was on.A class act.Neil showed that the more rotund among us can still play excellent doubles.Good enough to beat some very fit,fast powerful youngsters.
Experience 1,Youth 0

Mixed final was also good,Tonks/Pike beating Higgins/Tarry 15-10 3rd set.

[Khalid]

Yes, he did look a cut above the others, technically and particularly tactically.

It does beg the question as to what the BAofE teach our youngsters. What with all the new facilities and training they provide and trips to Denmark, Germany etc, a couple of players from a past generation, who are not part of the setup and presumably whose services and knowledge are not used, come along and win.

[wags]

I watched the finals yesterday. I thought the mens singles and doubles finals were very entertaining and played to a good standard. I think we have a real talent in Oeseph, what a good player with great knowledge of the game at such a young age. The future looks very good for him.

The doubles on the other hand I thought was quite comical and a joy to see two retired ex internationals (Knowles/Waterman) outplaying the youth of today. Knowles still looks very fit and I am sure would give the likes of Haughton/Burgess/Smith/Gaffer and others a run for their money, whereas Waterman was carrying a few extra pounds than the last time I saw him was too clever and skillful than anyone else they came up against.

Well done lads, look forward to watching you again this year.

[Darrenh]

The last i heard Knowlsy and waterman were in talks with Finn T Hansen over how much lottery money they wanted and where they wanted to train.
Dont choose Denmark lads,somewhere hot like Barbados.

[Michael Banks]

Giving ex internationals lottery money? Are you serious. Maybe as coaches but surely not as players. If this is the case then there is no hope for badminton in England. Every penny given to ex internationals is a penny taken from developing future badminton players and developing the badminton infrastructure in England.

[Morrissey]

A good point Michael.

But Knowles/Waterman showed this weekend at Wimbledon how bad the youth scheme is in this country. Two ex-internationals who haven't played for many years come back and thrash the top youngsters.

Perhaps the money is already being spent incorrectly?

A huge congratulations to Knowles & Waterman (what's happened to his belly?). You showed us old guys still have it and your semi-final was the best match I've seen for months!

Does anyone know where they're playing next? They both deserve our full support.

[Michael Banks]

I do see your point, but, throwing money at ex internatioanls won't help even if they have done a good job. The most important thing is to analyse why the current money is being misspent and the regular players can't compete with those who are in the twilight of their careers.

[Morrissey]

Why throw money at unproven children instead of men who have proven they were the best and still have potential to come back and do the same? Seem's daft not to encourage ex-internationals back when they are better than most of our youngsters.

Looking at Wimbledon as an example (sorry to go back there again), the youngers had excellent fitness and strength but when it came to the basic skills of reading the game and playing hidden shots they were useless.

It makes me wonder just what the BAofE are teaching and if they are spending money wisely and doing their job.

[stuartwardell]

I think they said the Essex open and they are training as we speak.

[Kapow]

very ineresting reading. must come and see wimbledon while i traveling.

in far east this would be not likely happen as we taught from very young age many skill. i had racket from father at 12. by 18 we already good in all our game. just we need play more at world class level. i had tour england as junior and played all shuttlers at time. i was unbeaten in uk.

our coach are always number1 and shuttler number2. we also must respect other shuttler but i hear this not case with some young shuttler who think they good in uk. very wrong mental condtion. we taught very hart mental discplin very inportant in game.

my fello countryman li yongbo and tian bingyi very good shuttler of 80/90s and still be very good today but have done very good job with china women and single shuttler now for many year.

thanks.

[bikerchic]

We might as well throw money at e-internationals if they are winning rather than top juniors who MAY BE (?) under performing...I agress its like throwing money at dead wood with reagrds to the future of badminton, but the same arguement could be said of the likes of Juila Mann & Colin Haughton, top in this country but we spend lots of money sending them away on trips for them to get NO results. Perhaps it sould all be performance related pay, even with the trips. Look at the US Open for example, what could and what value for money is English badminton getting from sending Jill Pritchard out there to compete...she is not a regular in the England line up, wont stand a chance of qualfying for the Olympics and is too old to be the up and coming singles champ of the future...could that money not be better spent on quality training of our top youth....also with reagrds to ex-internationals Jo Muggeridge and Felitcy Gallup (same era as Knowles) have shown why its worth investing in the comeback king / queens.

[gurner]

Got to remeber people it was only one tournament!!!!! Also this one tournament was a challenger not a grand slam/Elite what ever they are called now. If they continue it throughout the season then yes maybe they should be considered for lottery funding. But then begs the other question do they want to be considered?

[Darrenh]

Biker Chic,
i wish they would throw some money at ex-internationals and this country might improve.Andrew Smith could do with some wealthy expirience from us and instead of sending players who clearly wont make it half way round the world maybe they should get people in there who know how to play.

[spanks]

Calm down people i suspect that darren h and khalid Ackbar are winding you up as i think i have more chance of lottery funding than they do and i dont even play county.

[spanks]

Calm down people i suspect that darren h and khalid Ackbar are winding you up as i think i have more chance of lottery funding than they do and i dont even play county.

[ObiWan]

You're probably right on that Kevin.There are some people out there with very strong views on funding(see the recent new thread on that subject).
I don't think anyone would seriously put Knowles/Waterman in the funding equation coz it wouldn't be a long term investment.HOWEVER,I think it would be of huge benefit if the youngsters got to play against experienced guys like this on a regular basis.
Four fast powerful 19 year olds playing each other looks quite impressive but they don't really learn much about tactics and the art of winning.
Wouldn't it be a step forward if the BAofE encouraged players like Knowles/Waterman to come to MK and train against the youngsters??
I'm sure they could pay them 'expenses'.
Surely Darren(Hall)would be ideal for this??

[golum]

Kevin are you aware who Darrenh is if not try asking like i did before making those comments.

[danbelcher]

Golum, Kevin may have a point. Don't believe everything you read. This thread was obviously intended to be tongue in cheek (but perhaps with a serious side?). I don't know who darren h is or who you think it is but THE darren h certainly wasn't at wimbledon last weekend.

[Michael Banks]

It is not Darren Hall just someone pretending so don't be taken in. If Darren Hall was contributing I'm sure he would talk sense, this person doesn't.

[stuartwardell]

I think you will find that it is, Michael banks.

[Michael Banks]

I think you'll find it isn't Stuart - the sooner all the losers with multiple/false names go away the better.

[SylviaPenn]

Who are you Michael Banks?! I think it would be a good idea to pay ex internationals to bring on juniors and give them more experience in this country and save on the expense of sending them to tournaments abroad all the time. The gap obviously needs to be bridged between juniors and seniors when you look at the age difference of those who are in the national teams and the top juniors.

[Khalid]

Well said Sylvia.

And after watching the Open, there is clearly some top quality experience in this country that could be made use of for the benefit of this countries junior prospects.

[NathanRobertson]

Knowles/Waterman (a.k.a Wide-boy) back at Milton Keynes.........................
I agree bring them back,, we need some better quality golf players to spar against on the courses there!!!

[stuartwardell]

They were crap the last time i played them Nath?

[clandgridge]

Me and Robin would have won if we could have been bothered to try.Knowles and Waterman were easily beatable its just that we didnt try.

[spanks]

Nathan,
if you had spent less time on the golf course,you may have been able to keep up with the others on court at the worlds..........maybe???

[NathanRobertson]

Oh Mr Spanks...

Its true if I wanted to spend 10 hours a day in a training camp I probably would win more medals and tournaments, but unlike most of the Asian players I have what is called a life outside this sport. This is probably the main reason why Europe will always be behind Asia.... Also my golf is improving this year so its time well spent thank-you!!

[bikerchic]

Well said Nathan....Mr.Spanks what badders achievements have you got to your name to question our top player ???

[williamwallace]

Ooooogghh nooooooo nathan, the last time i pleyed goollf with yeww nathan ye put ye wee hans the wrong wey roond! hardly time well spent. ill see yew jimmy!!!!

[cowan]

i understand there is another tournament this weekend. who is going to win this time?