I guess someone asked me to tell something about the Uber-cup so here is my story!
I'm Eva, I am 19 years old and I was in the Dutch Uber-cup team this year in Guangzhou!

Well..lets see what about the Uber-cup! Well when I was selected I was really surprised.. they only told me about a moth before so I didn't have a lot of time to think about it. Well before I knew I was in the plane to China! It was my first tournament in Asia. And I really thought I would be more impressed by the country than by the tournament.. Well.. I WAS VERY WRONG!

The first week.. we arrived on the 3rd already.. we just trained a lot and ate and slept. It's really a crazy life when you are on a tournament like that. Everything is arraged for you.. you don't have to think for yourself.. We were in a VERY luxuorious hotel too...

But then the tournament started. So we played against Denmark. Well to be honest I never really thought we had a chance.. I didn't think Mia would win ( ok she didn't) and Judith was injured for 11 weeks. She played her first single in elven weeks against Tine Rasmussen and won! So that was quite amazing! Well the doubles were going to be a problem too because Lotte ( Jonathans) is the only real doubleplayer we have ( Well I am and Maartje - my fellow reserve player- is but we are not strong enough ( yet!!) to beat any doubles at that level :() But the combination Lotte/ Mia was very strong. As they proved throughout the tournament. Well Brenda is just a very strong player ( 3rd at the european champioships beating Kelly Morgan.) We were really happy.. but we had to focus on the next match against Indonesia.. we knew we had a chance to win and reach the semi's!)

Well that match against Indonesia was crazy. I think I have never been so nervous that last deciding ladies doubles Lotte/ Mia.. my heartbeat was over 200 all the time. After the match Lotte told me she saw that I was so nervous.. I had red cheeks all the time. Funny how people can be so focused and still see whats going on around the court. Thats why we introduced the 'team-songs' it was so funny how everybody liked that! We even sang some songs at the pressconference after the semi's!.

Anyway.. we were so happy! Because Denmark lost to HongKong we were in the Semi's WE HAD THE BRONZE ALREADY! :D But again we had to be focused on the next match against HongKong . To win that match was important.. because we really wanted to avoid the chineze team. ( which is almost unbeatable at the moment) and again we won! Mia played a VERY good match against Wang Chen.. and Judith and Karina ( two pure singleplayers) won there doubles! Crazy

I must say we celebrated the victory that evening! We had a small party on the hallway of the hotel with our team and some Indonesian players ( girls) and some danes.. But we went to bed early becouse we had to stay fit for the semi's ofcourse!

That match was crazy too. I think I have seen one of the best Ladies-doubles ever in my life. Well one of the most exciting anyway. Lotte and Mia against Ra/ Kim (I think..I dunno for sure..) Well we lost but we came very close to reaching the finals!

I really hope I will be in the Uber-cup team in two years again . And add something more than just singing songs. I must say I never played in a team with such a good teamspirit!
To me it was like a dream and I hope it will get a part-II soon!

Did all the players (from diff countries) stay at the same hotel?? Even though you didn't get to play... did u get any autographs? Talk to any top players? Lots of pictures??! :D

the first time in a big tournament, did you feel like you gained some experience even though you didn't play? like adjusting to the crowd and atmosphere, and supporting your own team? did you play in the euro championships?

how did you prepare off court? did you help your teammates warmup?

did you have to adjust your diet?

you are still very young. we hope to see you again in the Uber Cup in 2 years' time!

hey, how about a picture of your bronze medal? :)

where are you, Eva?

Eva,
Thanks for the post. From all reports, I think that you guys (the Dutch team) probably had the most fun.

How did the news media at home react to success that the team had at the Uber? Remember, the team is still very young so the core group should still be together.

I must say that the doubles team of Mia/Lotte was a very big surprise given that Mia is a Singles specialist. Maybe after this, she will consider playing doubles too. :)

Hi!

I really gained alot of experience. Although I didn't play I trained with the team everyday. I even played doubles against
some HongKong-girls on one training. So that was quite fun. I think people can learn a lot from just watching games.
Training in such an environment was great. A bit hot maybe cos the traininghall didn't have any airco. I never trained in
temperatures over 30 oC befor. But I can say you feel very 'clean' after training!

On the picture I'm the second from the left who is standing. This picture was taken after the game against HongKong..

Hrmm more questions.....

1. Who sponsors you?

2. What do you get from these sponsors.?

3. Do you use specific equipment because sponsor tells you to use it or do you actually choose?

4. What racquet do you use? String? String tension? Grip size? :D

5. What other stuff do you get for free as a pro? :D

I the Dutch Uber team did get many support from the spectators (including me and my crowds), not only the supprised win but you girls seem to have fun, with the singing and dancing, the Japanese was also having fun.
Keep doing the bit that you did in Guangzhou, show the rest that you can be competative and fun at the same time, this will make Badminton tournament more fun to watch. Thanks to the Dutch girls being the fresh ambassador of Badminton and good luck.
Kwun, how about those two girls (Mia & Yao) play for the Dutch team, would you call them import who taking the local girls spot in the team ?, I don't think so, the team can do so well because Brenda and Judith improves and Lotte have more confident playing with Mia, do you agree on this Eva ? Same with Hongkong team, with Wang Chen alone Hongkong can't win but Wang Ting and Wai Chee improves was the factors.
And remmember these players just like us who freely moves to any country for one reason or another and just like us who still like to play Badminton, the different is that they are good player but they have the same right as we do, play and represent the country they adopted, remmember many of them not 'imported', they have retired or not required by the original country. Yet, what the IBF and those big country like China, Indo, England try to stop them from playing for other country thus killing their playing career. Think about it, don't you think that player like Tony, Taufiq has already paid their debt (the Indo use this term) by winning the Thomas and Olympic ? These country only thinking of winning without considering the welfare, rights, future of the players and BADMINTON, they don't care about the grow of badminton as long as they can dominate the sport by winning all majors. Only three country ever win Thomas in 30 years and guess who ?. who is excited about this and who is going to watch ?
People like us who can make the different, IBF is run by members representing the country whom are the same people who try to stop players like Tony, Taufiq, Gong, Sun Jun etc from playing. Who is going to represent these players voice, often these players been reported negatively by media and guess who feed the media, until someone had spoken privately to these players before we know the other side of the story.
Will your opinion be different after you have read the posting from someone who had spoken to Tony, Taufiq personally ?
I guess I had enough to say on behalf of these players, they need your supports and Badminton must grow!:) :( :rolleyes:

wow!!! wordless............ oh, one thing though, EVA, you're beutiful! :D

yes, i will repeat what i've said before in BC forum, IBF is a stodgy, stale and politically driven association. We need new bloods and creativity in that organization.

I do concur with Boyboy. Eva, you are fairly attractive!

:D hihi! Thanks for those nice words!

Hm.. I didn't asked any autographs..gave them though! Yes I did talk with some players. After the tournament we
went to the hardrock cafe with al the danes so that was quite nice. To talk to the 'great players' like Taufik Hidyat
was something that I really wanted but..well I guess I was a bit shy there..surounded by those great stars..:(
next time maybe at the Dutch Open or Surdimancup

So funny to see how populair badminton is in Asia
If you say you play badminton, here in Holland, they just laugh at you! In Guangzhou, Shanghai television
came and made like a whole documentary of our training ( no Mia or other star in the hall just us..the three who
didn't play!!) haha..Crazy people over there! ( No offence... crazy = nice crazy! :))

About the sponsorship.. Well don't think you get everything for free...!! My main sponsors are Mum and Dad
haha.. well less and less in time but they really sponsored me the past couple of years!
I have a yonexsponsor now but its nota full sponsorship ( yet) So I still have to be carefull with my rackets
(I can't break them when I'm angry..I never did actually)! I play now with Ti-8 ( a classic already I guess)
Don't really know what the tension is, I use ashaway microlegend strings . I guess I have 2U.
To be honest I don't really care, I just try the racket and pick the one who suits me best. Maybe I even got
a singleplayers racket I'm not an equipment expert.. But next season I'm going to try some others..
But there are really not many things I get for free at the moment :(.. Then you have to be a REAL starplayer.
Badminton costs me more than it pays.. In money I mean...it pays the experiences and my fitness ofcourse!

Hi Va....

Your stories here really reminded me of the Thomas Uber Cup 2002.. though thats it's over alreadi... =P

For Indonesia Team, I remember that they dun only bring the Thomas and Uber Cup team players to China but also almost all players in the national team.. for the sparring partners...
VA, I agree with you that during that tournament you just train eat and sleep.... cos my fren told me that too.. read in some newspaper too.. =)

Playing in a group is quite different with playing individually.. i think there will be more pressure in the group tournamnets like Thomas Uber Cup, Sudirman Cup.. Is it true Va???

Looking forward to the next badminton tournamnets.. guess Taipei Open is the nearest one!!!

Eva,

just managed to watch the recordings of the Uber Cup (i know, i know, but tapes are hard to get... ) are you the one who had your face painted and was caught eating on TV? ;)

you Dutch girls really knows how to cheer your team. the 10 or so of you had the whole stadium filled with your singing! it was awesome atmosphere.

are you planning to play any tournaments in the near future?

It wouldn't surprise me if I was caught eating on tv.. typically me :)! But I did paint my face I had two dutch flaggs. ( it could have been Maartje a youngster like me who was probably eating as much as I did!)It was really funny to sing those songs.. Gives you something to do when you're not playing yourself.

I have some tournaments I'm going to play... Mainly EBU's but also the Dutch Open, German open and BMW cup. I hope there will be some real star players so I can see them play and learn from that aswell.. ( I DON"T hope those players will meet me in the first round...:( ... they will not survive!!!..:D haha.. just kidding)

Wherever you go, good luck. If I had some of those team experiences that you had in the Uber cup, I'd count myself as being really lucky.

Eva,
Best wishes for you on your EBU tour. If you have time, I think there are a number of us who would like to hear about your experiences playing on the circuit.

Even better, include pictures too :D

Happy shuttling.