KYLE PETERS
REPORTER-EDITOR
George Brown took home a tandem of medals at Conestoga College, as students Huyen Le and Anh Hoang took first and second in Women’s Singles at the Ontario Provincial Championships. The tournament also saw Areej Shalwani reach the final four in the Men’s Singles.
Five George Brown students participated in the tournament, which was held on February 13th, as Le and Hoang advanced to the National Championships. “It’s amazing,” Hoang enthused of her and Le’s titles, “it’s like rocks being lifted up from my shoulders.” Hoang, who managed to make it to the Semi Final, defeated Glyvette Evis from Fanshawe, only to fall to teammate Le in the Final, losing two sets, 21-12 and 21-11 respectively.
Coming after back-to-back years where George Brown took both Men’s and Women’s OCAA Badminton titles, the pressure of following up would weigh on this year’s team. “(It’s) very competitive,” Hoang continued, “there’s many good players. I’ve been worried since the season started. Our team got medals for a few years in a row, (there’s pressure) to continue the success.”
Losing the final to fellow George Brown student Le wouldn’t deter any teamwork, however. “(Le) is a very good friend off court and a great coach on court,” Hoang insists. Both natives of Vietnam, the two found working together to be a big part of what made their games at the tournament so dynamic. “She helps me in terms of movement, in shots, fitness, and techniques in order to improve my skills, foot work. It’s nice to learn from such a great player.”
In Men’s, Shalwani would be on a roll for most of the tournament, only falling to eventual champion Pranav Satheesh in the Semi Final, losing the Bronze medal to Runze Chen.
The gold medalist at the East Regionals from February 1st, Shalwani took his disappointment in stride. “My results at provincials were not as I had hoped for,” he would say following the tournament. “If there would be anything that I could bring back, it would be a good form and great momentum.” Shalwani, who graduates from Mechanical Engineering this year, looks back on his time at George Brown as a place of growth. “Being on the badminton varsity team along with (my degree) was not easy. As a final year student, there is a lot I believe I learnt on the way both on and off court.”
Also from George Brown were Diana Bosco and Fiona Kwan, who played for doubles. The pair would fall to sisters Kiersten and Paige Hillman from Georgian College in the first round, in 21-15 and 21-10 sets.
Le and Hoang will move on to the Canadian College Final, which will be held at University of Toronto Mississauga from March 4th-7th. To Hoang, who took home the silver at last year’s event at Dalhousie, maintains drills and fitness are the keys to taking home more medals. But she concurs a break is well deserved. “Good rest and good treatment for injuries are significant as well.”
