Professionals
The girl who grew up with VICTOR rackets (2)
Cheng Wen Hsing preparing to serve
Q.
How many hours a day do you practice? Did you have any memorable badminton experiences as a child?
A:
On average 3-5 hours a day and 6 if training with the national team. I remember when I was at senior high school getting into arguments with dad about training.
He'd try and hit me with the racket and I’d run away and let him chase me around the court (laughs). When the coach is also your dad sometimes personal emotions get in the way!
Q.
What do you habitually do before a match?
A:
First I warm up and stretch, then start to talk to myself. I do imagery training by answering questions asked by an imaginary person and I think about what strategy I should use for the game.
If the opponent is a strong one I will encourage myself to be confident while also preparing mentally for the possibility of losing.
Q.
You have played many matches. Which is the most memorable?
A:
At the Uber Cup in Tokyo in 2006 when Chinese Taipei won third place, its best ever result.
We played Korea in the quarter finals and had lost more than we had won against them in previous matches. We were the fifth match, playing Lee Kyung Won and Lee Hyo-jun.
Chinese Taipei and Korea were 2 matches each all overall and ours was the deciding match. It was a close match that went right to the wire but we came out winners in the end. I was really pleased because this was a historic moment for badminton in Taiwan.
I think the key was that the Koreans were under pressure because they were the favorites while we were less fancied so had less pressure and were able to play without inhibition.
Q
Which performance were you least satisfied with?
A:
The 2006 Doha Asian Games! We were all too nervous, from the coaches to the players.
Our women’s doubles pair was ranked third or fourth in the world at the time and many thought that it was a great chance to win Taiwan’s first Asian Game badminton medal, however we didn’t live up to expectations. That was quite a blow to me.
Q.
How many Olympics have you taken part in? How does it feel compared to other tournaments?
A:
I took part in the 2004 Athens Olympics, my first time, and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
I was especially excited the first time because all sportsmen and women want to compete at the Olympics and Athens is also the birthplace of the Olympic games so the Athens Games were especially meaningful.
2011 SINGAPORE SUPER SERIES RUNNER-UP : Cheng Wen Hsing
Q.
Are you doing any special training or preparation for the 2012 London Olympics?
A:
In the year from May 2 2011 to April 30 2012 we took part in successive tournaments trying to accumulate qualifying points and secure a high world ranking to ensure we have a ticket for the London Olympics. These tournaments have been our “training.”
Q.
Who is the most formidable player you have ever faced?
A:
China’s Gu Jun and Ge Fei are a very powerful pair and won the women’s doubles at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics.
Q.
What do you think your badminton strengths or advantages are?
A:
I am perceptive on court and I am pretty good at predicting my opponent’s shots. I estimate I am 70% able to predict my opponent’s movement, the state of their shot and where the shuttlecock will land….
The better your ability to predict your opponent’s shots, the better your ability to deal with the shot will be.
The next article “The girl who grew up with VICTOR rackets (3)” will introduce more about Cheng Wen Hsing in detail.
( Edit by VICTOR Badminton )
