Li-Ning Singapore Youth International Series 2012

Dear friends and readers,

Welcome to the Li-Ning Singapore Youth International Series 2012 which is of course being held at Singapore. Singapore is my home town.

I have spoken to Kanny Lai , the manager of the National team and Nick Kidd for their blessing to blog about the event. Have to check with Laars later.  This will help the parents of the players who have not been able to attend to watch their child play in the competition.

This is an exciting event for many of the players as most of them have never taken part in an international event. Most of the players have also never been to Singapore.

The players include:

Gavin Ho from Victoria
Amos Yi and Jazton Tan from WA
Huai Dong and Justin Lee from NSW
Tyzton and Ying Xiang Lin from WA

Jennifer Tam, Tiffany Ho and Janet Son from NSW
Alice Wu and Joy Lai from Vic.
Phing Teo from WA

Good luck to all the players.

I was told by my son Tyzton that one of the players asked if my wife Annie was going to cook for the team when the player found out Annie and I were coming along for the event. Sorry, there will be no cooking here to feed the players. Singapore is famous for their hawker food. I will be loading lots of photos for the parents to see what their child will be up to.

The players stretching at their first group training

Nick the coach making sure everyone is stretching

The players enjoying a fruit break under the supervision of Kanny Lai the team  manageress

Watermelon to cool the girls after their  hard workout

Action shot of Huai Dong or is it Tyzton

The boys pranking in the pool

Xiang and Justin who are too tired to get into the pool

Joy and Alice Wu in their Aus jersey as they have played for Australia. Janet in her NSW jersey. She will be looking forward to the honour of donning her first Aus jersey

The boys finding out who is the strongest

For parents who are not familiar with the tournament, information regarding who the players are competing against and their times can be found at http://badmintonasia.org/events/year-2012/november/li-ning-singapore-youth-international-series-2012/

The boys having their lunch at a typical hawker centre in Singapore

The girls tucking into their lunch

There is going to be a training session this evening at 8 pm. The players will be going to the New Singapore Badminton Hall located at Geylang.

I was just checking the internet last week and found out that the historic badminton hall that was located at Guillemard Rd has now been converted to a prawn fishing farm. That is the sort of changes you see in Singapore.

Will keep everyone posted.

The team had dinner early at 5 30 pm today. The players must be getting used to the Singapore food style.

After dinner, there was a surprise birthday cake for Xiang who has just turned 13 today.

Annie had arranged a surprise birthday cake for him. It was a great surprise for him.

Click below for the link to his birthday video:

http://www.magisto.com/video/agJGZAlVQGIKDUBm

He was too shy to say a word to his mum.

Xiang cutting his birthday cake.

Players at the hotel lobby waiting for the coach

The girls discussing tactics

The players had their first session at the hall at Geylang. I had to leave to have dinner with an old Singapore friend. Annie was left with the ipad but unfortunately she did not take any photos.

I will have to speak to Simon Lai to grab some photos from him.

 

Glenn, Nick and myself

After the training, Nick, Glen Warfe the National Junior Development Manager and I went for supper. Lasse was too tired after just arriving in Singapore. Glenn was good enough to say that he would link the blog to BA's website. That is great news as it gives the players more exposure. That will always help when we speak to sponsors.

Anyway, Tyzton will be the first player to play tomorrow against a Singaporean player. I did not tell him that his paternal grandmum, uncle and cousins might turn up to watch him play for Australia tomorrow.

So watch out for updates through the day.