1. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to tape the new courts in
Bolingbrook Badminton Club on Sunday May 13,
2007, 11:30am-1:30pm.

Bolingbrook Badminton Club:
200 S. Lindsey Lane
Bolingbrook IL 60440

Please contact Eva Mai @ (630)771-0048 if you
are interested in helping out.



2. Bolingbrook badminton schedule update:
Bolingbrook Badminton Club:
200 S. Lindsey Lane
Bolingbrook IL 60440

Fee: $3/Night (For now... This may change in
the future.)

May Schedule:
14 (Monday), 19 (Saturday)
21 (Monday, 26 (Saturday)
28(Monday,

June Saturday Schedule:
9, 16, 23, 30

July Saturday Schedule:
7, 14, 21

August Saturday Schedule:
4, 11, 18

Monday schedules is 7p-10pm (one court) and
Saturday schedules are 3p-5pm (three courts).

However, there are two more courts that need
to be taped. I’m asking some volunteers to help
me tape the floor on this coming Sunday from
11:30am to 1:30pm [See #1 above]

Also, don't call the park district about the
badminton program... Call Eva Mai @
(630)771-0048 instead. [She'll keep working on
making the schedule better and more consistent.]

[Thanks to Eva Mai for the info!]



3. Illinois HS State badminton returns to EIU this weekend

[Source:
http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2007/05/10/sports/doc464292a35151c433253225.txt
]



4. Players in the news:
Harding's Pang Thao, the reigning Minnesota state badminton
champion, tells critics of her sport they won't
think it's so easy after they play her.

Link below requires registration. Text of article is below - for pictures go to
link.
[Source: http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_5868036?nclick_check=1 ]

'If you think you can beat me, let's go play.'
Harding's Pang Thao, the reigning state badminton champion, tells critics of her
sport they won't think it's so easy after they play her.
BY TIM LEIGHTON
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 05/11/2007 12:13:33 AM CDT

Harding senior Pang Thao's combination of power and precision has led to 43
consecutive wins over the past two seasons entering next week's state badminton
tournament. "It can be really intimidating to play her," Harding teammate Mee
Xiong said. (SCOTT TAKUSHI, Pioneer Press)
Go ahead. Tell Pang Thao that badminton is merely a backyard game.

She has the perfect response.

Play me.

"I get mad at those people that tell me that badminton isn't a sport,'' the
4-foot-10 Harding senior said. "It is a tough sport, both physically and
mentally. The backyard game is all about fun. This game is all about power.

"If they keep making fun about it, I tell them I will show you what it is all
about. I even tell the boys, if you think you can beat me, let's go play. I tell
them I will even play left-handed.''

Playing Thao quickly converts non-believers.

"I am amazed when I can beat her,'' said Harding senior Andrew Chang, Thao's
boyfriend, who posted a rare win in a playful scrimmage earlier this week. "She
is No. 1. Period. She can beat anyone around here. She makes you run and run;
she makes you keep going left and right. She beats you up.''

Thao is the defending Minnesota high school champion and is an overwhelming
favorite to win a second consecutive title next week when the state tournament
is held at St. Paul Harding on Thursday and Friday. Harding, a five-time state
team champion since 2000, is the top seed for the team tournament on Tuesday and
Wednesday. Harding will host matches on Tuesday, and the team semifinals and
championship are Wednesday at Burnsville.

Thao, who moved to Minnesota from her native Thailand in 1991, has not lost a
match in two seasons. She is 16-0 this season and was 27-0 as a junior. As a
sophomore,

she was 23-4 after a third-place state finish. During her undefeated run, the
most points an opponent has scored in a match is 16. Twenty-one points wins a
badminton match.
"Pang has blossomed into a dominant kind of player that dictates tempo,''
Knights coach Tracy Hrouda said. "Her athleticism, combined with her footwork,
power and shot selection, make her a difficult player to beat.''

Thao sprinkles in some finesse, too.

"It is very important for my success to be able to place my shots,'' she said.
"That helps keep my opponent guessing where I will hit (the birdie).''

Hitting the birdie didn't come easily for Thao, who was introduced to badminton
as a seventh-grader at Washington Junior High in St. Paul.

"I thought it was a very hard game when I first started playing,'' she said with
a smile. "I used to swing and miss the birdie quite a bit. It was pretty
embarrassing.''

But her interest in the game never wavered.

As a freshman at Harding, she wasn't able to crack the varsity lineup and spent
the season as the junior varsity's top player. She had long battles with varsity
teammates in head-to-head matches but ultimately fell short.

But Thao's athleticism, hustle and intelligence paved the way to becoming a
dominant player.

"It can be really intimidating to play her,'' said junior Mee Xiong, Harding's
No. 2 singles player. "She is the state champion, and her skill level is so
high.''

But, Thao figures, those skills aren't great enough to continue playing
competitively. With no colleges offering badminton scholarships and no Olympic
aspirations, Thao is content if her competitive career ends next week.

"I don't know where else to play,'' said Thao, who plans to play volleyball at
the College of St. Catherine in the fall. "I do have a state championship, and I
want to win another. I have to set an example for the younger ones on our
team.''



-- CLBP Moderators