If you have been following Malaysia news, you will see there some similarities between how BE and BAM operate (could we call this commonwealth power?). BE has to rely on the 'old guards' just like MAS because they are the one who bring in the sponsorship(and funding) and you know how much this country cares about badminton if we don't perform in the international stage. I agree BE have to give more prioirity to youngsters for continuous development. However, the undeniable fact is Robertson is still the 'best' in the squad as proven in the recent concluded national. If the youngsters feel very deprived and wanted to prove a point. Train harder and beat Robertson. It's as simple as that. That's how the world works. No one cares about how hard and how much you deserve, only result matters. Robertson has already won World champion and an Olympic medal, he has nothing to prove, does he? What did the youngsters achieve? they couldn't even clear the second round of a SS event. You have a fair point that Blair could make it far if given more chance. But, you also have to be aware that Blair is not young anymore(29). Will you bet on your proven pairs or the underperforming youngters? That's a tough choice to make consider funding is limited these days. I apologize if this sounds harsh, just wanted to say that BE is not entirely wrong by only focusing on the 'old guards'. After all, those young kids need to work thoroughly to deserve the limelight.
Just what I was waiting for, saves me the trouble : National Champions crowned in Europe 07 February 2011 In most of Badminton Europe’s Member Associations the National Championships were being held over the last weekend. Here you can see a list of the new National Champions around Europe. (in alphabetical order) Austria: MS: Michael Lahnsteiner WS: Claudia Mayer MD: Peter Zauner/Juergen Koch WD: Alexandra Mathis/Belinda Heber MX: Roman Zirnwald/Simone Prutsch (photo) Belgium: MS: David Jaco WS: Lianne Tan MD: Freek Golinski/Matjis Dierickx WD: Steffi Annys/Serverine Corvilain MX: Gert Poesen/Manon Albinos Croatia: MS: Zvonimir Durkinjak WS: Andrea Zvorc MD: Igor Cimbur/Zvonimir Hoebling WD: Stasa Poznanovic/Lucija Vlah MX: Zvonimir Durkinjak/Stasa Poznanovic Czech Republic: MS: Petr Koukal WS: Kristina Ludikova MD: Jakub Bitman/Pavel Drancak WD: Kristina Ludikova/Marketa Mouritsen MX: Jakub Bitman/Alzbeta Basova Denmark: MS: Peter Gade (photo) WS: Tine Baun MD: Jonas Rasmussen/Mads Conrad WD: Marie Røpke/Line Kruse MX: Mads Kolding/Marie Helsbøl England: MS: Rajiv Ouseph WS: Nicola Cerfontyne MD: Nathan Robertson/Chris Langridge (photo) WD: Jenny Wallwork/Gabby White MX: Nathan Robertson/Jenny Wallwork Estonia: MS: Raul Must WS: Karoliine Hoim MD: Raul Must/Ingmar Seidelberg WD: Karoliine Hoim/Laura Vana MX: Ants Mangel/Karoliine Hoim Finland: MS: Ville Lång WS: Nanna Vainio MD: Ville Lång/Mikko Vikman WD: Sanni Rautala/Saara Hynninen MX: Anton Kaisti/Jenny Nystroem France: MS: Brice Leverdez WS: Perrine Lebuhanic (photo) MD: Baptise Careme/Sylvain Grosjean WD: Laura Choinet/Weny Rasidi MX: Baptiste Careme/Laura Choinet Germany: MS: Marc Zwiebler WS: Juliane Schenk MD: Ingo Kindervater/Johannes Schoetter WD: Birgit Michels/Sandra Marinello MX: Michael Fuchs/Birgit Michels (photo) Ireland: MS: Scott Evans WS: Chloe Magee MD: Sam Magee/Tony Stephenson WD: Sinead Chambers/Jennie King MX: Sam Magee/Chloe Magee Italy: MS: Giovanni Greco WS: Agnese Allegrini MD: Giacomo Battaglino/Marco Mondavio WD: Federica Panini/Erika Henriete Stich MX: Giovanni Traina/Federica Panini Netherlands: MS: Eric Pang WS: Yao Jie MD: Ruud Bosch/Koen Ridder WD: Paulien van Dooremalen/Lotte Jonathans MX: Ruud Bosch/Lotte Jonathans Poland: MS: Przemyslaw Wacha WS: Kamila Augustyn MD: Adam Cwalina/Michal Logosz WD: Nadiezda Zieba/Malgorzata Kurdelska MX: Rafal Hawel/Kamila Augustyn Scotland: MS: Kieran Merrilees WS: Susan Egelstaff MD: Jamie Neill/Keith Turnbull MD: Jillie Cooper/Emma Mason MX: Paul Van Rietvelde/Imogen Bankier Slovenia: MS: Luka Petric WS: Maja Tvrdy MD: Miha Horvat/Luka Petric WD: Tina Kodric/Urska Polc MX: Luka Petric/Tina Kodric Switzerland: MS: Christian Boesiger WS: Jeanine Cicognini MD: Christian Boesiger/Anthony Dumartheray WD: Ornella Dumartheray/Sabrina Jaquet MX: Anthony Dumartheray/Sabrina Jaquet
Russia: MS: Vladimir Ivanov (Владимир Иванов, Челябинск) WS: Ella Diehl (Элла Диль, Самара) MD: Andrei Ashmarin/Nikolai Ukk (Андрей Ашмарин/ Николай Укк, Москва/С-Петербург) WD: Valeria Sorokina/Nina Vislova (Нина Вислова/ Валерия Сорокина, Н.Новгород/Н.Новгород) MX: Alexandr Nikolaenko/Valeria Sorokina (Александр Николаенко/Валерия Сорокина, Новосибирск/ Н.Новгород)
Few Questions Picture 1: is that Vladimir Malkov on the right of Ivanov ? Who is the one on the left hand side ? Grachev ? Pukhov ? And in picture 4&5 is that Anastasia Russiikh I see ?
Yes (Владимир Мальков), Ivan Sozonov (Иван Созонов) and yes (Анастасия Русских) I don't think there was a bronze medal match so missing from MS pic is Pukhov ...
I knew there was one I missed out. They are all of a very similar standard those 4, Denis Grachev is I bit behind Malkov, Ivanov, Pukhov and Sozanov, although I think Pukhov is the best out of the lot.
There wasn't any livestreaming, but all the finals of the Dutch National Championships are or will become available at the YouTube-channel of badmintonline.nl at http://youtube.com/badmintonline. These five matches are full-length, full-hd and, of course, free.
