Collegiate Nationals 2010

This past weekend the Drexel team once again traveled to beautiful College Park, Maryland and successfully avoided all police forces, this time.  Competition was tough both from the east coast and west coast.  Berkeley ended up winning both the men's and women's divisions. Our women's team(sara) was only narrowly defeated.

Senior team member, Chern, gave an exciting last show at nationals this year. He recalled, "When I was a freshmen, I was sitting on the bleachers watching this [men's doubles final] match. Now, I am playing in it."  Good thing he had been drinking that Chernade.  Z also played well in his last nationals, winning the men's doubles (B) draw with Peter.

The rest of the team performed well.

MD (A) :: Yehan & Chern - 2nd Place
XD (A) :: Chern and Sara - Quarterfinals
MS (B) :: Peter - Quarterfinals
MD (B) :: Peter & Z - 1st Place
            Akhil and Ben - Semifinals



A list of official results can be found here. So here is to next year when Drexel will win.  We better start training.

Photos from: Me
                   Peter Teuben
                   Our Peter
(more coming soon)

BEN

New Shuttles

Hey everybody! Joe ordered new plastic shuttles for practice! Enjoy playing with our reserve of feather shuttles while you can.  Z says that we should be okay if we use one tube per practice, so play carefully.

The new ones should  be arriving in a few weeks.

BEN

A New Online Schedule

A monthly court availability schedule can be found here. Please note that club practice time is not included.
Hopefully they will actually follow this one....

Also, here you can find general facility hours and other court availability schedules.

BEN

National Capital Open 2010

AKHIL

What do you get when you take (3)long days + (-)leg room + (badminton)^10 + D + C??? The DC open of course!  The long weekend proved to be challenging yet fun.  A record number of participants came from all over the east coast to compete in Maryland this year and despite the stiff competition, Drexel gave a respectable performance.  A breakdown of the official results can be found here. Listed below are Drexel highlights. Nice job, team.

Akhil reached semi's in MS (B)
An reached semi's in WS (B)
Akhil and Heidi reached quarter's in XD (B)
Anna reached quarters in WS (C)
Sara reached quarters in WS (C)
Peter and Z reached quarters in MD (C)
Art and Diane reached quarters in XD (D)

There is a ton of media from this event. Below is what I have so far.  Be sure to check it all out, especially that "say" video.  If you have any photos or video from the event, please send them on over.

Pictures:
From Anna + Me
From Peter Tueben

Videos:
"SAAAAY" (thanks to Kevin)
DC Open on local TV
(more to come)

BEN

Membership Fees

Club Members,

The time has come once again for club dues.  15 dollars is the price to play.  This years budget cut has left us high and dry but not to worry, our tuition is still the same price.

Here you will find the list of members who have paid their dues.  For those of you who attended MAC Jr's and/or DC Open, I am told reimbursement is on it's way. Any questions? Talk to Joe.

P.S.  Another Drexel tournament is also in the works for February!

Thanks!

BEN

Look out, D.C.

The National Capitol Open is less than 3 days away.  Those of us lucky enough to be rewarded a spot in the draw will be departing this weekend for the University of Maryland.  This years event was flooded with over 300 entries and sadly, many players on our team were sanctioned to the wait list. Most of us, however, were lucky enough to gain entry into at least one event... tough luck, Aaron. This weekend will most likely be very fun and what better way to start it out than a 2 - 3 hour car ride!

Details for the DC Open, including the weather, can be found here.

It's going to be an intense weekend. Rest up!

BEN

Featured Player - Vincent Kan

Vince is one of the clubs most valued honorary senior members and judging by that medal, he is clearly a contest winner.  I'd say Vince is known for 2 things on the court: 1. Shouting words so loud to the point that they are unrecognizable, such as  "out." 2. bananas.  Now, lets take a look at this interview!

1. Who is your badminton hero?

    I don't have heroes.  But I do admire Taufik Hidayat quite a bit.  With a backhand that potent, he must beat his wife regularly.  While that may be outside the realm of acceptable behavior, sometimes you have to commit sacrifices for the love of the sport.

2. Describe your badminton fantasy.

    To have Gillian Clark commentate on every single one of my games.  Hell, while we're at it, she can commentate on every single second of my life.  She's just that good.
3. What makes you angry?

    Inattentive drivers.  False accusations.  Badminton.
4. Do you like bananas?

    If stuffing my face with two bananas a day is wrong, then I don't want to be right.
5. What is your best badminton move?

    All of them.  Most notably, the Mega Man.
6. Describe fellow club member, Chern Lim in 3 words.

    DE. CEP. TION. 

7. What is on your badminton wish-list?

    I wish I had more time to play badminton.
8. If you could have lunch with any 3 people, living or dead, who would they be?

   If I'm paying the bill, any 3 dead people will do.  Also, I eat rather slowly, and I can't imagine that corpses are in a rush to go anywhere soon.
9. What is your worst badminton move?

   Playing with Diane Yang.  She has a tendency to direct the shuttle into the net with her serve.  I have a tendency to strike her body with my racquet as I serve.  Neither strategy is particularly effective.
10. If you could choose, how would you like to die?

    With my hands gripped firmly around your neck.  If I'm going down, you're coming with me.
11. What is your motto?

   Don't take life too seriously.  Nobody makes it out alive anyway.

I can't agree more with you about Gillian Clark, Vince. Question number 10? Not so much. 

BEN

Winter Term Practice Schedule 2010

DBC members, a new year and a new term is upon us and a slightly modified practice schedule will help ring in 2010.

Here's the deal ::

Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays

6:30 pm - 9 pm

South Gym in the Dac (just in case you forget)

Also this term, be sure to not check out the new courts were not getting with DAC expansion. Oh, and please check your e-mail for practice cancellations/modifications due to the basketball team either playing a game or needing to stare at empty badminton courts whilst they practice. ...and then there is always that pesky spirit team lurking in the background.

Anyways, Happy New Year!

BEN

BALLLLL!!!!!!!

BEN

Featured Player - Artur Vieira

Hailing from Portugal, Artur is on of the teams most entertaining members. His slightly unconventional playing style and crazy trick shots (or attempted trick shots) make for an interesting match anytime he is on the court. Artur is a junior and is studying Electrical Engineering. No fail sauce here, ladies and gentlemen.


1. Who is your badminton hero? 
    Lee Chong Wei. I love his playing style.
2. Describe your badminton fantasy. 
    To actually get a trophy in a tournament. Not just get a medal for beating 2 13 year olds in a match.
3. What makes you angry?
    Getting gum on my shoes. See people spitting all over the floor. Lagging in Counter-Strike.
4. When you look in strange directions as you hit the shuttle, what do you hope to see?
    I want to see the reaction on people's FACES as I trick my opponent...or just completely miss the shuttle.
5. What is your best badminton move?
    Deceptive drops - when they work.
6. Describe fellow team mate Linh Bui in three words.
    He's Bui Wonder.
7. What is on your badminton wish-list?
    Some serious badminton shoes, instead of my usual basketball shoe supply.
8. If you could have lunch with any three people, living or dead, who would they be?
    Bruce Lee - so he can teach me all his moves
    Rambo - so he can train me to survive in the jungle with all his moves
    Chuck Norris - so I can own him with all the above moves.
9. What is your worst badminton move?
    360 backhand jump smash - because a normal backhand smash isn't enough.
10. If you could choose, how would you like to die?
    Some painless way: BOOM headshot, nade frag, in my sleep
11. What is your motto?
    Live life one day at a time. The future is dynamic so don't doubt anything.


Another one down. 


BEN