1
Sports
SPOKE,
April 3,
2006
— Page
1 i
A
‘Victorious tournament
By MELISSA
HANCOCK
He
said his mother’s reaction was, “Oh,
you
arc kidding! Unbelievable!”
At home in China his name was Yang Shiguang and teaching table tennis was a parttime job which he enjoyed and a hobby at
which he excelled. He would teach friends, or whoever wanted to learn, the skills and techniques involved in playing the game.
Yang - it is traditional for Chinese family names to precede their given name - said he had French and Australian friends whom he taught the tricks of the table to and said they would laugh after each match because they could never beat him.
.
“They said was always a victor," Yang "Or (1) was always victorious.” 1
said.
Yang competed
Exhibition Place
in
“My “He
father doesn’t support me,” he said.
thinks he
at a tournament Toronto by the CADA
Table Tennis Worlds Sports Club and
won
place, earning him the title Chinese New Year Table Tennis Champion 2006. He said, “(It was) spectacular and wonderfirst
Yang
said his father
most a student. However, Yang
1
considers himself a
rookie at the game.
who
In China, he said people are not allowed to
Chinese team. He also said the competition level there is higher than in Canada. "If we want to play, it’s for the country,” he said. “I have been training for more than 10 years and my coach would still get angry.” On his way back to Kitchener after the Toronto tournament, Yang used his cellphone part of a
home
are already interested in Joining a
“If (students)
way
1
min-
of 10 people for a club to be formed. will
want
to exercise in a different
show (them) how
to play well,” he
said. “It is
fun and there are no injuries.
a .safe
It’s
sport!” he laughed.
Students interested
Joining the club can
Victor
victor 1 986 1 0
Yang
in
1
at
9@hotmail.com.
said a table tennis club
who
don’t
would be good
know how
to
play
because he would take the time to teach them
enter tournaments alone, but rather have to be
to call
Canada has more
table tennis club, but said he will need a
for s'tudents
1
said
and fore-
first
At the college, Yang said he knows of a few people
Yang,
still
rather he be in a
table tennis player, but rather
contact
said he
would
Chinese school and live a traditional life with his family at home. He emphasized that he is not a professional
win the tournament, but at the same time he was “pretty scared.” Although he has been playing for years, ful" to
19,
knows everything - sometimes
he’s right.”
imum
second language student.
In January, at
nament.
opportunities for learning and advancement.
In Canada, he goes by the name Victor Yang and he is planning to start a table tennis club at Conestoga College where he is an English
as a
However, according to Yang, his father is a man and docs not approve of him living in Canada or competing in the tourvery traditional
to share the
news of
his victory
with his family. “I also called the girl
who
I
love,
Yan
Ni,” he
said with a smile.
the
game.
“You have It’s
to
move
fast
and be very
light.
tiresome, but fun,” he said.
As
for his latest victory,
Yang
said he
is
accomplishment and likes having the champion title and winning cup. “My room is messy,” he said. “1 don’t have space to put it, but I can show my friends it any time.” He will be competing in another tournament in Vancouver this summer and said he hopes it will be Just as successful proud of
his
as the last one.
(Photo by Melissa Hancock)
Conestoga College student, says he drinks a can of Red Bull energy drink before playing a number of table tennis matches. Energy is one thing players need to be quick on their toes. Victor Yang, a
Doubles team By
BRANDON WALKER
Cambrian team, but it’s the first medal for both of us and there’s
been an exciting year for Jun Karina Olivares from Conestoga’s varsity badminton It’s
Kim and
team. After finishing
doubles held
at
first in
mixed
the regional tournament
Humber College
at
Feb. 3 and
went to Seneca College to compete in the provincial tournament. Feb. 18 and 19, where they won silver after battling Cambrian 4, they
(Photo by Brandon Walker)
Alex Elgin, a second-year marketing student, tries to read the
defence while standing outside
game (left)
of the three-point line during
of pick-up basketball in the recreation centre. William
a Karak
for gold.
Kim
says he went into the tour-
nament confident, cool and collected. since it was his second year in a row eompeting for the
plays tight on-the-ball defence.
eollege
at
the provincial tourna-
ment, finishing fifth last year. “Being able to say you're one of the best is always an honour and something to be proud of Last year was my first year and I didn’t have a goal, I Just wanted to do as well as possible. Karina and I really
hit
Fanshawe
it
(the) in
Devilbiss (dark sweaters)
goal to win 4-3.
unfortunate
out against the boards during an intramural
game last month. Team outscored Management by one hockey
after
(tournament
November). “There were high expectations for us. Even before Christmas people around the league were saying we should compete in nationals. Personally I went in thinking we were Just one of the teams fighting for the top spot. It’s
(Photo by Melissa Hancock)
Teams toughed
off
it
we
rallies to silver
eouldn’t beat the
nothing to be disappointed about. ask for more,” he said
“I couldn't
with a pause, “exeept gold. The
Cambrian team strong.
My we
best that
When
that beat us
partner and
I
was so did the
if
he was nervous he
said, “Actually, not at all, these are
the types of
games
played.
I’ve
matches and
in
year,
I
that I've
played it
I
and leisure program and not being able to play with Olivares and the rest of the team recreation
Lauren Bond and Pauline Kosza won bronze in women’s doubles
season placing fourth
at
was down. I was able to and communicate
my game
for anything
teams
that
more from
made
that
huge
surprise.”
personality.”
tices or
whole team had a
lot
of chemistry. “I’d never played on
such a supporting team. first
It
was
the
year for both of the coaches
and the team had some ups and downs, but we pulled through. (The coaches) are one of the biggest rea-
of the
all
three
the provincials.
“They played exceptional. It’s good to see them play their best at one of the best tournaments.” Purkis said there were no big surprises at the event. "The Cambrian mixed doubles team was incredibly strong, but we
knew
said the
the coach
team, said he eouldn't have asked
with her very well because of her experience in mixed doubles as well as having a calm, laid back
He
in the tourna-
ment.
Tony Purkis. go out
and have fun. “Even with the big erowd, 1 love the attention, 1 Just thrive on it. I really enjoy playing at a high level. I can honestly say couldn’t have done it without I the dedication that Karina and I put in. She really pulled me up play
sad to be graduat-
last
one game
said he Just likes to
when
He sounded
ing from the college’s two-year
and Mike Palmer finished fifth in men’s singles. The team ended the
a time.”
He
fun this year and had a
.season.”
big
always
these
high sehool and
Just take
we had
good
next .season.
eould.”
asked
sons
(going
in)
so
it
wasn't a
Although there are no more prac-
games
this season, Purkis
wanted interested students to keep an eye out for an open night of badminton over the summer to get ready for next season.
He tryout
said interested students can for
September.
next season
in
mid-^