Badminton player wins two gold at U.S. event
Author: Metroland Media LTD
Date: 10 Feb 2007
Category: World News
Ernest Nketiah felt he was ready when he went to the recent U.S. Senior International Badminton championship in Miami Lakes Florida, and he proved it.
Competing in the 35-39 age division, Nketiah captured two gold medals and a silver at the tournament held at the Don Shula Hotel and Golf Club.
Nketiah breezed to the singles title in his age group. He and John Lee from Mississauga won the men's doubles crown. Nketiah and Eva Karwowski of Toronto wound up taking the silver in mixed doubles.
The international tournament had competitors from counties such as India, Pakistan, Jamaica, Japan, Germany and Denmark as well as Canada and the U.S.
His medals added to Nketiah's performance last year at the event where he took silvers in each of his doubles events and had a bronze in men's singles.
Nketiah said he went to the tournament confident.
"I had really trained for this,'' he said. "I went to the Toronto Open (a week before) and played against kids 19, 20 and 21. They can really make you run,'' the 38-year old said.
He said he was the oldest competitor in the Toronto event but that didn't prevent him from reaching the round of 16 in the main draw. His fitness level put him in good stead for competing against those his own age in Florida.
In the men's singles he won all his matches fairly easily, including the final when he topped Laszlo Drimusz from the U.S. 21-5, 21-6.
The lopsided score certainly surprised others at the tournament who were expecting a close final.
"Everyone said he's going to give you a hard time,'' said Nketiah.
His fitness level is something that Nketiah takes pride in. During the summer he plays soccer. He also does workouts with friend Delroy Hall, who coaches high school football in Brampton at Notre Dame. Nketiah said Hall has been one of the big influences on his life through what he has taught him about fitness.
Nketiah was a little disappointed he did not get the chance to play American Andy Chong, the defending men's singles champion, who had knocked him out of the tournament last year. Chong did not attend this year because his wife recently gave birth and Nketiah was anxious to see how he would have done against him.
Besides playing, Nketiah is also coaching. For the last couple of years he has been an assistant coach for the team at George Brown College.
In February he is hoping to win his third consecutive Ontario seniors title for the 35 to 39 division in Kitchener and he feels he is playing as well as he ever has. He is also gearing up for the nationals later at the Boulevard Club in Toronto.
But he is also looking down the road to the 2009 World Masters Games in Australia. At the last World Masters Games (for athletes aged 35 and over) in Edmonton in 2005 Nketiah lost in the quarterfinals of the men's singles but won a bronze medal in the team event.
In order to continue to compete he is looking for sponsorship. Currently he receives equipment sponsorship from Yonex and got help from his wife's family in getting his fight to Florida.
He would appreciate hearing from anyone who could assist in sponsorship. He can be reached either at 905-454-6589 or 647-295-5751.
http://www.northpeel.com/br/sports/story/3873582p-4481005c.html
