native players: mike beres overall men: 06 toronto open champion, Hirawan Hirawan from indonisia. overall lady player: i've not seen anyone better than meiluawati, (used to be world #7 in women's singles, swept thru toronto open 05 and 07)
Two of them are employed by Lee's Badminton, I watched them played at the Toronto Open. Wow! How did Lee's find these excellent guys. Does Jennifer Lee have connection with international level players?
Well Hariawan is no longer at Lee's. Neither are the two Indonesian players that won the doubles event last year (Dagus & Piyan). I believe only Mieulwati (spelling?) is back and remains coaching at Lee's.
are you sure Dagus and Piyan left Lees? They are still listed as elite coaches on Lee's website together with coach Meiluawati. Lee's posted newly updated photos (should hold today's newspaper http://www.leesbadminton.ca/Elite+Program+Coaches_eng.html
Piyan left last week for Indonesia. I'm told that Dagus has also left the club, but still in Canada for now.
I second Mike Beres...he's a rare breed in terms of being an all around strong player in singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles... But his true strength is in the doubles categories. (don't forget how old he is compared to the rest of the players - a rare breed) Not too familiar with the indonesians mentioned above..
Beres rules! As for his true strength being in men's doubles, I would like to point out that his highest world ranking ever attained of all three events is in mixed doubles. I think he's about 34 or so, so he'll be able to play in Masters tournaments soon. Now as for the best Canadian-born girl from Ontario in doubles, it should be Helen Nichol. For mixed doubles it would be Valerie Loker. I believe these two don't train in Ontario though.
world ranking don't mean that much, each nation can only send a few players out to the tournies. Best player is probaly cao chen as he was on the china national team. Don't think many players in Canada can top that, unless its Kim Dong Moon in Calgary or something.
