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For the
Record:
Age: 21
NZ Ranking
in Singles: No.2
World
Ranking in Singles: 51
Click
Here for Michelle's Full Profile
Having just
returned from the Thomas and Uber Cup - (the World Teams
Championships recently won by China) - Michelle makes time for a
chat, and photo shoot in time for the magazine deadline.
It may
not seem like a lot, to give up an hour or two. However when you
connsidar(A)
that she has returned to over 100 emails; an urgent
University assignment (in business psychology) an exam which she
has had little time to study for; a tough training schedule; and work to raise more money for the next stage of her
travels; all while jet lagged it puts a different perspective on
it
J.
On A Mission
For Michelle
getting more consistent is one of the keys to her mission to be
the best. With her sights set on the 2010 Commonwealth Games,
and 2012 Olympics in London, she is very aware of the need to
keep traveling to get more competition.
"Badminton
overseas provides opportunities to play a lot more players with
a greater variety of styles of play, more personalities and
competition. The drive to beat each other is very intense and
people are not afraid of others not liking them if they beat
them. This is the environment that creates champion players and
it is good to get exposed to that as often as possible".
So What Was
It Like Playing in the Uber Cup in Indonesia?
 "In
Indonesia badminton is like rugby is here in NZ - there are
thousands of screaming fans packing the indoor stadiums.
People were literally dancing in the aisles. We had police
escorts clearing traffic to the games and each team had a
liaison officer."
"When we were playing you could
hardly hear anyone, even the coach, talking to you because of the
noise from the crowd. I had never experienced that level of
noise before, ever, even when playing previously in Asian or
European tournaments".
"It was good
for me to learn, not only about handling that side of the game,
but also getting used to the stadium. The air flow caused
some shuttle drift. All while playing some of the best players in
the world"
Great Mentors and Coaches
In the early
days Michelle, although determined, was often bemused by the fact
that others showed faith in her ability. She feels lucky to
have had the guidance of two very important mentors in her life.
She has also learned to trust her own talent, and find ways to cope
with the tough pressures of international sport.
 "Barry
Stevens took me under his wing when I was very young and is
still to this day is one of my most important mentor / coaches.
He has continued to both support, and inspire me, to be the bets
player I can be"
"In
2004 I met a Danish coach Svend Sorensen - then NZ's National
Reserve Squad coach - who is one of the best people I have ever
met. He has taught and guided me so much in life and sport."
"He
has a strong philosophy in thinking and listening to your own
thoughts and instincts, and more importantly not to judge these.
I agree with this philosophy, and it has helped me develop into
the player I am today. Although back in Denmark now I continue
to work with him, he has helped me immensely by allowing me to
have a base in Europe".
More Than
Just ON COURT Commitment
In NZ
badminton receives very little TV coverage and only a little
funding. Not the professionally payments that overseas players
and teams get. As a result Michelle has to not only work hard
on court, but off it, to allow her to pursue her dream. Each year
she must develop a tournament schedule, figure out how to fund
it, and what to compromise in order to achieve her goals. Making
the money last can mean extra flights, and often lonely stopovers in airport lounges in places that are hard to pronounce.
It certainly isn't a glamorous lifestyle.
 Confidence
Comes With Experience
One of the
toughest battles was the internal one. Of gaining confidence in
an international circuit which is fiercely competitive, and of
meeting expectations of others when at home. The very
environment she needed to play in to get better was, initially, magnifying her
doubts about her ability.
"At first
while overseas I realized that many players don't respect or
look at you on the same level. Knowing you come from a country
such as NZ, where badminton has a low profile and minimal funding,
can lead players overseas to not expect you to be "good".
"As a
teenager competing half way across the world with people, this
fueled my own doubts and fears and it wasn't a pleasant feeling
being completely outside of my comfort zone, but it also made me
more determined."
"I realized
that no one was going to be able to solve that for me. I was
going to have to learn to conquer these fears and doubts, and
listen to the people around me who did believe in me. To
continue to do what I love, no matter what others thought. I took
the attitude that no one has the right to judge how good you
"should" be base on where you came from"
Is it worth
it? The sacrifices?...Michelle thinks so.
The past
year for Michelle although intense has been rewarding. Playing
more international tournaments has taken her ranking from 160 in
the World, in Womens Singles, to 51. She has visited over 15
different countries in the last 12 months in Europe and Asia to
pursue the competition she needs to get better. Off court
having the opportunity to form good friendships and renew olds
ones is great, and of course there is always the shopping, if time
allows, when in Europe
 .
Picture
References:
In order as they appear from
top to bottom:
1) Michelle relaxing
at home in between study sessions (photo taken by Sarah Joe)
2) The NZ Uber Cup Team -
From left: Jessica Jongowisastro (NH), Emma Rodgers (Ak), Rachel
Hindley (NH), Renee Flavell (Ak),
Danielle Barry (Wt), Michelle Chan (Ak), Donna Haliday (Ak) (not
present National Coach Tjitte Weistra)
3) The NZ Thomas Cup Team -
From left: Coach Thana Arikrishnan (not present National Coach
Tjitte Weistra), Craig Cooper (Wk),
Kevin
Dennerly-Minturn (Ak), John Moody (NH), Joe Wu (Wk), Henry Tam (Ak),
Nathan Hannam (Ak).
4) Michelle in action
against Denmark at the Uber Cup in Jakarta - photo courtesy of
Sue Smith
(A) Note: There is a word spelled
incorrectly on this page on purpose as part of the treasure hunt
to start the hunt go to the kids page and click on the treasure
map.
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