Kevin Cordon - Talent In Abundance!

***Oldhand*** · 08-11-2008, 11:00 PM

Kevin Cordon (from Gautemala, of all places

) should be one of the finds of these Olympic Games

At Beijing 2008, he almost did to Bao Chunlai what Ronald Susilo did to Lin Dan in Athens 2004... except that Bao Chunlai seems to be a lot luckier.

In their 38-minute encounter in the Round of 32, Cordon surprised the Olympic MS 3rd seed with a very stubborn game. Yes, Bao Chunlai won the match... but not before being forced to concede as many as 33 points to a player relatively unknown beyond the Americas.

Final score: Bao Chunlai beat Kevin Cordon 21-17, 21-16

(For those who have seen this match, no explanation is needed.)

Cordon is just 21 years old (born on 28 Nov 1986), stands 5'11" (182cm) in his socks and is one of the best known athletes in Guatemala. He won the MS silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His current world ranking is 54.

An awesome jump-smash, a very determined playing style and a solid defence are attributes that put this young man on a higher level than most of the non-Asian players. It could be that he has had extensive training elsewhere, perhaps in Indonesia or Malaysia (or in Denmark)

To his credit, Kevin Cordon didn't look the least bit intimidated by Bao Chunlai during the Beijing Games encounter. In fact, he made the long-limbed Chinese star work very very hard for the straight sets win.

Unless he decides to choose an alternative career, you can safely bet that we'll be seeing and hearing more of this talented Gautemalan in the time ahead

----------------
For trivia fans:

Kevin Cordon was Gautemala's flag-bearer at the Beijing Opening Ceremony. This is not the first time he has had this honour. He carried the national flag at the 2007 Pan American Games too.

***Oldhand*** · 08-11-2008, 11:05 PM

Here's a picture posted by cooler when Kevin Cordon won the 2007 PAG Silver

***Oldhand*** · 08-11-2008, 11:07 PM

A few more random pictures of Kevin Cordon

(The first is from the opening of Beijing 2008)

**Dreamzz** · 08-12-2008, 04:00 AM

ah, another up and coming star.
looks like i have to catch that game then, i hope someone uploaded a quality recording.

**N4ruto** · 08-12-2008, 04:13 AM

His net shots are great as well.

**metalmon1188** · 08-12-2008, 04:28 AM

seems like bao hasnt been performing well, nearly beaten by wacha

anyway, another raising european star. young, energetic, good player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsirFP73hnc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5gxWr4AsWI

**metalmon1188** · 08-12-2008, 08:37 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK0ULiQL0F4

**KZ** · 08-12-2008, 09:48 AM

wacha is already in his mid-twenties.....I have to agree that this guy has a lot of talent...his jump smash is amazing....so he was the flag bearer for guatemala...nvr knew that....maybe badminton will become a popular sport one day in south america...

**gtramontini** · 08-12-2008, 03:27 PM

Oldhand said:

Originally Posted by Oldhand

Kevin Cordon (from Gautemala, of all places

) ...

I didn't understand your expression. Do you know Guatemala?

**malayali** · 08-12-2008, 03:53 PM

Uh oh, somebody is in trouble!!!!!!
Oldhand was probably implying that because Gautemala is not that famous for badminton!!! & suddenly out of nowhere, we see a talented player from Guatemala. So thats probably why he 'expressed' that.

Originally Posted by gtramontini

Oldhand said:

I didn't understand your expression. Do you know Guatemala?

**cooler** · 08-12-2008, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by metalmon1188

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK0ULiQL0F4

and the gold went to mike beres, a 34 yrs old canadianMS

**smashie54** · 08-12-2008, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by Oldhand

It could be that he has had extensive training elsewhere, perhaps in Indonesia or Malaysia (or in Denmark)

kevin was part of the bwf camp in saarbrucken (along with a lot of the other olympians), there's an article from the bwf site here:

http://internationalbadminton.org/news1.asp?pageid={558EF1CD-69D3-4635-98BC-D83FB07CD69A}&year=2008&month=8

hope that helps

**xXazn_romeoXx** · 08-13-2008, 03:07 AM

Originally Posted by cooler

and the gold went to mike beres, a 34 yrs old canadianMS

it speaks a lot about Mike, since he's a doubles specialist (actually he's pretty all-round), and still he beat Kevin (as talented as he is).

**cooler** · 08-13-2008, 03:13 AM

Originally Posted by xXazn_romeoXx

it speaks a lot about Mike, since he's a doubles specialist (actually he's pretty all-round), and still he beat Kevin (as talented as he is).

yes, doubles as in MD and XD.

**ctjcad** · 08-26-2008, 05:13 AM

..his game is still pretty raw. He is talented, young and has a devastating and sharp jumpsmash. But a couple of things i (and a couple other BCers who watched his match vs. BCL) noticed about his game is that he still needs work on his defense and net/touch game. It happened also in this yr's U.S. Open too, when Andy Dabeka exposed those 2 areas, in their Semifinal match.
But i think, if Kevin keeps on improving, Guatemala will have a future star in the professional badminton circuit..

***jamesd20*** · 08-26-2008, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by gtramontini

Oldhand said:

I didn't understand your expression. Do you know Guatemala?

I think Oldhand meant that Guatemala has not produced any top players previously so that Kevin Cordon should be so good is a surprise.

Please don't take offence.