‘Other Sports the Other Press June 7, 1993 Douglas College Royals tour Asia for Cultural Enrichment and Badminton Experiences There's more to this trip than just tournaments and sightseeing. The BCCAA Champions visit Tokyo, Taipei and Taiwan during the month of May. by Elaine Leong During the month of May, Douglas College’s Badminton Team booked some time off to take a two week tour in Asia. Though over half of the team is currently trekking through the remainder of Asia, four of the players, coach Peter Chen and Athletics Director Betty Lou Hayes have come back to B.C. and are able toshare some of their thoughts about their experience. The team consist of: Chris Trenholme, Cory Loken, Tosca Lueks, Evy Miki, Rachel Shiu, Michael Co, Dak Ban, and Aleem Mawji. All Canadian Julia Chen was unable to join in this trip due to her international student status. Of the six people who came back, only Chris Trenholme and Rachel Shiu were available for comment before the Other Press deadline. even weight loss. This was in Taipei. “In Japan, the air was cooler and drier,” Trenholme contributed, “butin Taipei and Taiwan, the heat was harder to bear. You sweat more, lose energy faster. You just wear down quicker.” The Asian teamscould notafford tomakea trip toCanada. And the visitors that do visit Canadaare not usually at the same level /calibre as Douglas College. “Some players from the A or B National team of Taipeidid come to Canada in the Fall of 1992 but it was only for a short time to play in the Canadian Open Tournament,” Trenholme stated. Thanks to this trip to Asia, oppurtunity opened a door for the DC Royals to play matches against the National Palace Museum in Taipei, and the University / College of Taipei. Also the Royals got the chance to practice with the B-National team. The competitions gave “The purpose of the trip was to see a different culture in whichbadmintonisa really popularsport,” Trenholme said. It was also a chance to play tournaments against other countries, to go sightseeing (including a visit to Tokyo's Disneyland) and mostimportantly experience and learn about other cultures, Trenholme time to just look over at the players of Taipei. “They [the players in Taipei] are faster, more consistent and they’ve played longer.” Trenholme noted feeling great tohave played the badminton. One of the highlights of thetrip involved visiting the Yonex Japan & Victor Taipei. “Yonex & Victor” are the biggest badminton from the food to the sport of badminton to the manufacturing companies. This trip was for the players to spend time together while touring another country. It was not an acquaintance trip asit was for the DC volleyball teams have taken during Fall- Winter Semester break. Shiu and Tranholme both agreed on that thought. thought. = -onntries are known for their exvertise in “Asian countries are known for their expertise in badminton,” Shiu stated. “It was a great learning) experience through the wholematch. You're on the court playing and it’s, like, WOW!” The group had learned about badminton in Asia by simply playing against the other students, watching how they play and talking to them. Shiu had no problem noticing the one main feature of Asia, the humidity of the weather. The weather is part of the playing conditions for all athletes. It is not just a matter of making sure the court is swept or that the equipment is durable and strong. Weather conditions like humidity and frost-biteareconsidered unacceptableconditions for playing sports in B.C. The Asian culture however has shown that they are adapted to such high temperatures. Trenholme of the team did say that the performance was affected by the playing conditions. “You have to drink lots of water and you do get dehydrated fast.” “Yeah, all of the gyms were on the fifth or sixth floor of the building and we even played ina gym that was built in the side of a mountain.” Shiu noted. “I'd be sweating before we even start the game. Meanwhile, the other players [from Asia] are wearing sweatpants and warming up.” The altitude did affect the playing performance and goods manufactures in the world, which also supports and sponsers Douglas’ badminton team. “Badminton goods are hand-crafted in Asia,” Shiu said, “They're not machine made.” The players had walked through the company, witnessing the actual hand labour production of the rackets and birds they wen Thaw wratchod feam maltia~ 4h- —- 1k e- og? a use. They watched from molding the racket to winding the string on theracket to theactual painting of theracket. Attaching “It was a great experience through the match. — You're playing on the court and it's like wow, this is great!" Rachel Shiu the feathersbirds and shuttlecocks was also part of the tour. Trenholme noted that the testing of the equipment was by machines only but everything else was done by hand. After seeing all the hand work, the players felt they were better able to “appreciate” the equipment they use weekly. Though there were many highlights mentioned by the players, all of them agreed that the people that they metand the friendships made were most invaluable. “Peter's friends are very giving,” Shiu replied. “One day we spent some time hacking a bird around, then later on justas I was about to leave, they came up to me, gave me the bird [to keep] and drove away.” The bird that they were hacking was a badminton bird specially designed to hack around with your feet like a hacky- sack. Shita's definition of giving can be defined as giving the gift ofattention to other people, getting to know themand spending quality time, having dinner or going out. “You get to meet some really nice people in badminton,” Trenholme said. Trenholme had really enjoyed having dinner and getting aquainted with the Museum team. “We had 14 15 different dishes. All the layers had brought their friends, we went out, it was great.” : y The Dissent hing I’ve learned,” Trenholme added, ‘Tm much more appreciative for the lifestyle we have here in Canada after touring Taiwan and Japan. And also, I’d like to thank Douglas College Athletics and Peter Chen for making the trip possible.”