0 Austrian International Challenge 2012

Venue: Wiener Stadthalle - Halle B, Wien, Austria
Time: 22-25 February 2012

PRZEMYSLAW WACHA

Winners:

Men's singles Przemyslaw Wacha (Poland)
Women's singles Sayaka Takahashi (Japan)
Men's doubles Rupesh Kumar/Sanave Thomas (India)
Women's doubles Ng Hui Ern/Ng Hui Lin (Malaysia)
Mixed doubles Chau Hoi Wah/Wong Wai Hong (Hong Kong, China)

Final matches:

MS: Przemyslaw Wacha (POL) v Yuhan Tan (BEL) 14-21 21-15 21-16
WS: Sayaka Takahashi (JPN) v Tsz Ka Chan (HKG) 21-17 21-9
MD: Rupesh Kumar/Sanave Thomas (IND) v Hiroyuki Saeki/Ryota Taohata (Japan) 23-21 22-20
WD: Ng Hui Ern/Ng Hui Lin (MAS) v Eva Lee/Paula Lynn Obanana (United States) 21-16 21-18
XD: Chau Hoi Wah/Wong Wai Hong (HKG) v Sabrine Jaquet/Anthony Dumartheray (Switzerland) 21-6 21-10

Semifinalists:

MS: Kashyap Parupalli (India) & Chan Yan Kit (Hong Kong, China)
WS: Shizuka Uchida (Japan) & Neslihat Yigit (Turkey)
MD: Chris Langridge/Peter Mills (England) & Joergen Koch/Peter Zauner (Austria)
WD: Asumi Kugo/Megumi Yokoyama (Japan) & Yuriko Miki/Koharu Yonemoto (Japan)
XD: Elisabeth Baldauf/Roman Zirnwald (Austria) & Stasa Poznanovic/Zvonimir Hoelbling (Croatia)

0 Indonesian boys against all odds

TEAM INDONESIA

 While some cynically comment on poor performance of the shuttlers at the current individual events, Indonesia men's team showed a mentality strength, coming from behind to secure direct spot of the Thomas Cup final round in Wuhan, China. All worries collided when the first two matches only caused the lead for Republic of Korea. The boys managed to ease the pressure by taking the remaining three matches, escaping the would be disaster of all time with a dramatic 3-2 victory. Speaking honestly, it was lucky that Indonesia did not play Japan who had quite stronger squads than the Koreans.

This result, to some extent, has shown the way to be the all time record holders of the men's team world championships title. Taufik Hidayat and Co. overcame critical situations and this situation will be a good advice towards the final round. Where all the best teams around the world meet at the "Wuhan Summit" this summer, the opponents will not be only those with sound tricky and stylish look of Asian characteristic, but also stroking and powerful of European playing style. Nowadays, Europe has more options in badminton with the rise of new powers, empowering the legendary Danes. They will become serious contenders.

Indonesia as a team is still one of the bests. Playing as a team is very different from playing individuals. While individual quality plays an important role to bring success, the sense of "oneness" will likely be another source of strength. At individual events most of the Indonesian squad members did not have much to prove last season so the Thomas Cup should be the right momentum to show everyone in doubt that ther cynicism is wrong.

0 Jalan Terjal Tim Uber Indonesia

FIGHT AGAINST ALL ODS, FIRDA! BRING THEM ON!

Tim Uber Indonesia hampir saja terpental dari orbit putaran final Piala Uber yang tahun ini akan berlangsung di Wuhan, Cina, bulan Juni nanti.Takluk dari Thailand pada fase grup, Indonesia harus berjumpa dengan "the Mighty China" pada babak kedua. Meskipun lawan menurunkan skuad alternatif, kekuatannya ternyata tidak mampu ditahan oleh putri-putri Indonesia. Akibatnya, skuad Merah Putih harus berjibaku dalam babak play-off. Syukurlah tim berhasil lolos dari lubang jarum dengan melewati hadangan Singapura, Malaysia, dan Hong Kong.

Hasil selama babak kualifikasi di Macau menjadi catatan yang berharga bahwa bulutangkis putri Indonesia sedang mengalami masa sulit. Bukan semata karena kualitas pemain, melainkan karena kekuatan negara-negara pesaing yang semakin berkembang. Persaingan bulutangkis dunia sekarang bertambah heterogen. Tim-tim yang sebelumnya menjadi pelengkap kejuaraan sekarang berubah menjadi pesaing yang serius. Hal ini setidaknya terjadi di Asia dan Eropa. Semenjak putri Korea mengukir sejarah sebagai juara dunia beregu putri (Piala Uber) tahun 2010, sejumlah negara lain ikut termotivasi. Di Asia, Jepang telah menebar ancaman dengan memuncaki babak kualifikasi setelah mengalahkan Cina. Andaipun alasannya karena Cina turun tanpa skuad terbaik, setidaknya prestasi Sakura Ladies cukup membuat merinding incumbent Piala Uber sekarang ini, Korea. Sementara di Eropa Denmark bukan lagi selalu yang terbaik, atau tepatnya, telah ada kekuatan selain Denmark. Bulan Pebruari ini muncul kekuatan baru beregu putri Eropa, Jerman. Frauen Nationalmannschaft baru saja mengukir sejarah regional dengan tampil sebagai juara Eropa yang berlangsung di Amsterdam, Belanda. Jerman bukan tanpa usaha keras karena sukses Europameisterin 2012 tidak terlepas dari adanya pembinaan secara reguler, salah satunya melalui DBV Bundesliga.

BELAETRIX, MENCOBA ULANGI SUKSES SHENZHEN

Contoh perkembangan di atas sekiranya membuat Indonesia semakin menyadari bahwa bulutangkis kini telah menjadi milik dunia. Dari sudut pandang lain dimensi, Indonesia patut berbangga karena "icon sport"-nya diminati banyak orang. Hal demikian pasti akan memperkuat posisi bulutangkis. Sedangkan dari kacamata prestasi Indonesia, perubahan reputasi dari unggulan utama menjadi tim "mediocre" adalah sebuah nasihat yang sangat berharga. Bahwa Indonesia telah menjadi incaran para pesaing karena kebesaran namanya secara historis. Bagi negara-negara dengan kekuatan baru, mengalahkan Indonesia adalah sebuah motivasi tersendiri. Karena mempertahankan reputasi lebih sulit daripada meraihnya, maka kerja keraslah yang harus ditempuh. Kini putri-putri Indonesia tidak dapat semudah masa lalu dalam "memilih lawan empuk" karena setiap kontestan Piala Uber 2012 nanti akan membawa serta para andalan yang telah malang-melintang dalam kompetisi reguler BWF, baik pada level Superseries, Grand Prix/Grand Prix Gold, International Challenge, International Series maupun Future Series.

Kepada tim Uber Indonesia, SELAMAT BERJUANG!

0 2011 Season Summary: Future Series

MEN'S SINGLES

Torneo Giradilla (Cuba) : Arif Gifar Ramadhan
Fiji : Wesley Caulkett
County of Manukau (New Zealand) : Yogendran Krishnan
Carebaco (Barbados) : Howard Shu
Zimbabwe : Ali Shahhousseini
Colombia : Andres Corpancho
Ethiopia : Ali Shahousseini

WOMEN'S SINGLES

Torneo Giradilla (Cuba) : Muthia Restu Putri
Fiji : Andra Whiteside
County of Manukau (New Zealand) : Karyn Velez
Carebaco (Barbados) : Lohaynny Vicente
Zimbabwe : Claudia Mayer
Colombia : Barbara Matias
Ethiopia : Victoria Na

MEN'S DOUBLES

Torneo Giradilla (Cuba) : Berry Angriawan/Christopher Rusdianto
Fiji : Wesley Caulket/Raymond Tam
County of Manukau (New Zealand) : Daniel Shirley/Andrew Smith
Carebaco (Barbados) : Virgil Soeroredjo/Mitchel Wongsodikromo
Zimbabwe : Moses Chipurura/Lawrence Mdege
Colombia : Matthew Fogarty/Micholas Jinadasa
Ethiopia : Ermiyas Tamarat Degefe/Asnake Sahilu

WOMEN'S DOUBLES

Torneo Giradilla (Cuba) : Dwi Agustiawati/Ayu Rahmasari
Fiji : Cecile Kaddour/Johanna Kou
County of Manukau (New Zealand) : Doriana Rivera Aliaga/Madeleine Stapleton
Carebaco (Barbados) : Lohaynny Vicente/Luana Vicente
Zimbabwe : Audrey Matsanura/Olga Matsanura
Colombia : Daneysha Santana/Luz Maria Zornoza
Ethiopia : Hadia Hosny/Rajae Rochdy

MIXED DOUBLES

Torneo Giradilla (Cuba) : Dwi Agustiawati/Christopher Rusdianto
Fiji : Ashleigh Karl/Brent Munday
County of Manukau (New Zealand) : Gabby Aves/Daniel Shirley
Carebaco (Barbados) : Crystal Leefmans/Mitchel Wongsodikromo
Zimbabwe : Victoria Na/Luke Chong
Colombia : Renate Carvalho/Andres Carpancho
Ethiopia : Rajae Rochdy/Luka Zdenjak

0 2011 Season Summary: International Challenge

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SINGLES

Sweden : Pablo Abian, Kaori Imabeppu
Iran : Tommy Sugiarto, Nicole Grether
Austria : Hao Hsu Jen, Nozomi Okuhara
Poland : Pablo Abian, Larisa Griga
Vietnam : Lee Dong Keun, Jing Yi Tee
New Zealand : Riichi Takeshita, Sayaka Sato
Osaka (Japan) : Keigo Sonoda, Minatsu Mitani
Peru: Kevin Cordon, Rena Wang
Netherlands : Hans-Kristian Vittinghus, Susan Egelstaff
Denmark : Jan O Jorgensen, Anastasia Prokopenko
Morocco : Pablo Abian, Carolina Marin
Spain : Viktor Axelsen, Carolina Marin
Maldives : Pablo Abian, PV Sindhu
White Nights (Russia) : Hao Hsu Jen, Fransiska Ratnasari
Indonesia : Tommy Sugiarto, PV Sindhu
Kharkov (Ukraine) : Brice Leverdez, Olga Konon
Guatemala : Ivan Sozonov, Michelle Li
Belgium : Brice Leverdez, Olga Konon
Brasil : Przemyslaw Wacha, Michelle Li
Czech Republic : Przemyslaw Wacha, Kristina Gavnholt
Bulgaria : Przemyslaw Wacha, Linda Zechiri
Switzerland : Andre Kurniawan Tedjono, PV Sindhu
Puerto Rico : Niluka Karunaratne, Michelle Li
Bahrain : Sourabh Varma, Agnese Allegrini
Norway : Ville Lang, Linda Zechiri
Malaysia : Alamsyah Yunus, Belaetrix Manuputi
Scotland : Rajiv Ouseph, Judith Meulendijks
Rep. Ireland : Rajiv Ouseph, Hsiao Ma Pai
Italy : Pablo Abian, Yao Jie
Canada : Carl Baxter, Michelle Li
India : Alamsyah Yunus, PV Sindhu
Turkey : Hong Ji Hoon, Petya Nedelcheva

MEN'S DOUBLES

Sweden : Kim Alstrup Sorensen/Rasmus Fladberg
Iran : Abdul Rahman MR/Abdul Latif MR
Austria : Anthony Clark/Chris Langridge
Poland : Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov
Vietnam : Fernando Kurniawan/Wifqi Windarto
New Zealand : Danny Bawa Chrisnanta/Hendra Wijaya
Osaka (Japan) : Takatoshi Kurose/Keigo Sonoda
Peru : Howard Bach/Tony Gunawan
Netherlands : Baptiste Careme/Sylvain Grosjean
Denmark : Rasmus Bonde/Anders Kristiansen
Morocco : Ingo Kindervater/Johannes Schoettler
Spain : Adam Cwalina/Michal Logosz
Maldives : Ashton Chen Yong Zhao/Derek Wong Zi Liang
White Nights (Russia) : Rian Sukmawan/Rendra Wijaya
Indonesia : Rian Sukmawan/Rendra Wijaya
Kharkov (Ukraine) : Adam Cwalina/Michal Logosz
Guatemala : Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov
Belgium : Adam Cwalina Michal Logosz
Brasil : Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov
Czech Republic : Adam Cwalina/Michal Logosz
Bulgaria : Jui Wei Liang/Kuan Hao Liao
Switzerland : Lukasz Moren/Wojciech Szkudlarczyk
Puerto Rico : Adrian Liu/Derrick Ng
Bahrain : Andrei Adistia/Christopher Rusdianto
Norway : Rasmus Bonde/Anders Kristiansen
Malaysia : Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda
Scotland : Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov
Republic of Ireland : Adam Cwalina/Michal Logosz
Italy : Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov
Canada : Adrian Liu/Derrick Ng
India : Pranav Chopra/Akhsay Dewalkar
Turkey : Kim Ki Jung/Kim Sa Rang

WOMEN'S DOUBLES

Sweden : Line Damkjaer Kruse/Marie Roepke
Iran : Ratnasiri Achini/Weerasinghe Upuli
Austria : Yuriko Miki/Koharu Yonemoto
Poland : Rie Eto/Yu Wakita
Vietnam : Choi Hye In/Lee Se Rang
New Zealand : Yuriko Miki/Koharu Yonemoto
Osaka (Japan) : Miri Ichimaru/Shiho Tanaka
Peru : Alex Bruce/Michelle Li
Netherlands : Valeri Sorokina/Nina Vislova
Denmark : Line Damkjaer Kruse/Marie Roepke
Morocco : Birgit Michels/Sandra Marinello
Spain : Paulien van Dooremalen/Lotte Jonathans
Maldives : Komori Miki/Miyoshi Nao
White Nights (Russia) : Irina Hlebko/Anastasia Russkikh
Indonesia : Della Destiara Haris/Suci Rizki Andini
Kharkov (Ukraine) : Shinta Mulia Sari/Yao Lei
Guatemala : Eva Lee/Paula Lynn Obanana
Belgium : Shinta Mulia Sari/Yao Lei
Brasil : Eva Lee/Paula Lynn Obanana
Czech Republic : Valeri Sorokina/Nina Vislova
Bulgaria : Mariana Agatangelou/Heather Olver
Switzerland : Pradnya Gadre/Prajakta Sawant
Puerto Rico : Alex Bruce/Michelle Li
Bahrain : Nicole Grether/Charmaine Reid
Norway : Eva Lee/Paula Lynn Obanana
Malaysia : Noko Fukuman/Kurumi Yonao
Scotland : Emelie Lennartsson/Emma Wengberg
Republic of Ireland : Ng Hui Ern/Ng Hui Lin
Italy : Valeri Sorokina/Nina Vislova
Canada : Alex Bruce/Michelle Li
India : Della Destiara Haris/Suci Rizky Andini
Turkey : Sandra Marinello/Birgit Michels

MIXED DOUBLES

Sweden: Heather Olver/Robin Middleton
Iran: -
Austria: Hoi Wah Chau/Wai Hon Wong
Poland: Nadiezda Zieba/Robert Mateusiak
Vietnam: Savitree Amitrapai/Patiphat Chalardchalaem
New Zealand: Vanessa Neo/Danny Bawa Chrisnanta
Osaka (Japan): Koharu Yonemoto/Takeshi Kanemura
Peru: Grace Gao/Toby Ng
Netherland: Valeri Sorokina/Alexandr Nikolaenko
Denmark: Julie Houmann/Mads Pieler Kolding
Morocco: Birgit Michels/Michael Fuchs
Spain: Mie Schjott-Kristensen/Mikkel Delbo Larsen
Maldives: Grace Gao/Toby Ng
White Nights (Russia): Vanessa Neo/Danny Bawa Chrisnanta
Indonesia: Keshya Nurvita Hanadia/Andika Anhar
Kharkov (Ukraine): Birgit Michels/Michael Fuchs
Guatemala: Grace Gao/Toby Ng
Belgium: Yao Lei/Chayut Triyachart
Brasil: Eva Lee/Halim Haryanto Ho
Czech Republic: Valeri Sorokina/Alexandr Nikolaenko
Bulgaria: Anna Kobceva/Valeriy Atraschenkov
Switzerland: Nina Vislova/Vitalij Durkin
Puerto Rico: Grace Gao/Toby Ng
Bahrain: Anna Kobceva/Valeriy Atraschenkov
Norway: Chloe Magee/Sam Magee
Malaysia: Lai Pei Jing/Tan Aik Quan
Scotland: Line Kjaersfeldt/Kim Astrup Sorensen
Republic of Ireland: Heather Olver/Marcus Ellis
Italy: Valeri Sorokina/Alexandr Nikolaenko
Canada: Grace Gao/Toby Ng
India: Shendy Puspa Irawati/Fran Kurniawan
Turkey: Yoo Hyun Young/Cho Gun Woo

0 2011 Season Summary: Grand Prix

MEN'S SINGLES

Russia : Zhou Wenlong
Canada : Marc Zwiebler
Vietnam : Nguyen Tien Minh
Netherlands : Hsueh Hsuan Yi
Pan American Games : Kevin Cordon

WOMEN'S SINGLES

Russia : Lu Lan
Canada : Chen Shao Chieh
Vietnam : Fu Mingtian
Netherlands : Yao Jie
Pan American Games : Michelle Li

MEN'S DOUBLES

Russia : Naoki Kawamae/Shoji Sato
Canada : Ko Sung Hyun/Lee Yong Dae
Vietnam : Angga Pratama/Ryan Agung Saputra
Netherlands : Adam Cwalina/Michal Logosz
Pan American Games : Howard Bach/Tony Gunawan

WOMEN'S DOUBLES

Russia : Valeri Sorokina/Nina Vislova
Canada : Cheng Shu/Yixin Bao
Vietnam : Anneke Feinya Agustin/Nitya Krishinda Maheswari
Netherlands : Duanganong Aroonkesorn/Kunchala Voravichitchaikul
Pan American Games : Alex Bruce/Michelle Li

MIXED DOUBLES

Russia : Valeri Sorokina/Alexandr Nikolaenko
Canada : Birgit Michels/Michael Fuchs
Vietnam : Nina Vislova/Vitalij Durkin
Netherlands : Kunchala Voravichitchaikul/Songphon Anugritayawon
Pan American Games : Grace Gao/Toby Ng

0 Europameisterin 2012 : Deutschland

FABIENNE DEPREZ

JOHANNA GOLISZEWSKI

ISABEL HERTTRICH

OLGA KONON

SANDRA MARINELLO

BIRGIT MICHELS

CARLA NELTE

JULIANE SCHENK

KARIN SCHNAASE (badminton.de)