Badminton: China in her hands

Kimberly Windsor couldn't believe her eyes. Her badminton opponent, a young girl, was forced to stand with her head in a corner for three hours. Her crime: to lose to Windsor. Other punishments included being compelled to stand in a bitterly cold hall in sweaty T-shirt and shorts.

In Chinese badminton, losing to a foreigner is not tolerated.

New Zealand Badminton reserve squad member Kimberly Windsor, who has had two spells of intensive three-week training in China, was there to soak up China's expertise in badminton but found more than just shuttlecocks and training sessions.

"It's not really physical violence, it was much more of a shame thing," said Windsor.

"The coaches want to embarrass their players in front of everyone when they lose to promote a real fear of losing."

Windsor visited Qingdao in November last year to improve her game and help lift her number four singles ranking in New Zealand. The Qingdao experience was more of an eye-opener than it was beneficial for her badminton and Windsor wasn't keen to return to China last month, following her first exposure to the pressured environment. But she was assured by New Zealand Badminton that Beijing would have more professional coaches and conditions.

In China, children are selected from around eight years of age to be badminton players. Their life from that point on is almost entirely dedicated to the sport.

"When they are 11 or 12, they live next to the badminton hall and train every day for six hours. They only get Thursday afternoon and Sunday off. It is just crazy," said 23-year-old Windsor.

"School really is a secondary option. Their life has to revolve around badminton and if they haven't made it by the time they are 19, then they take their study seriously."

Windsor said the training methods for these young kids often seemed to be pure madness.

"I was watching 11-year-old kids lifting heavy weights with terrible technique, their backs are all buckled. It makes you cringe."

Windsor believes it is hard to measure any damage from incorrect weight training because their careers are so short.

They peak at 21 and are discarded for the next wave of adolescents.

Despite the means, Chinese badminton does produce exceptional results.

Windsor concedes she is not nearly up to the standard of the youngsters. She was dealt fairly comprehensive hidings from girls eight years younger than her and the better Kiwi men on the trip were playing 15-year-old-girls and getting whipped as well.

"They get results but it comes at a cost. They are totally institutionalised and I don't think they enjoy their lives. I don't approve at all of the way they are treated. Young kids are being trained into the ground."

However, no matter how intense the upbringing is for the Chinese, they still would not trade it for the alternative of working in the masses. All of the children's food and accommodation is paid for in the camps.

"Badminton is a way out for them. It is their chance to break out of the routine of Chinese life and get a start for themselves," said Windsor. "The reward for the Chinese players if they are to make it to the top is massive, they are set for life."

Windsor says the higher standard inspired other squad members on the trip to train harder. In the tougher physical sessions like footwork they were determined to keep up with their Chinese counterparts. Speed and endurance are the aspects that make the Chinese world-leaders in the sport.

"You think you are done and then they just keep pushing you past the pain barrier. I was absolutely knackered every day. The first few days I was going to bed at 8:30pm. I came home so much fitter and faster."

Aside from her fitness, she pinpoints her increased stroke control as a big improvement from the tuition.

"They just hit the line every time with unbelievable consistency. For hours on end, they would be hitting the same spot on the court. In time, my shot accuracy increased heaps which helps in using all of the court."

Since returning from China, Windsor and doubles partner Donna Cranston, the top-ranked pairing in New Zealand and 41 in the world, believe their standards have risen and that they are much better players.

"We didn't notice it over there but back home we are so much quicker than we were," she said.

Windsor believes she is an outside chance to compete in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006.

To qualify she needs results and is planning to go to Europe next month to play the Polish International and the Dutch International tournaments and build on her ranking points.

In August, the New Zealand Open will upgrade to one star status with total prize money of US$30,000. Yet another tournament which could help improve her ranking. 

- HERALD ON SUNDAY