Hard work pays-off for top-ranked Van Tonder
He is ranked first in the singles and doubles and fifth in the mixed doubles.
Jordan van Tonder never thought he would be the top-ranked U15 player in the country when he started playing badminton competitively two years ago.
The 14-year-old is thrilled with his achievements but will not allow this to get into his head. He will continue to work hard until he becomes a senior national player.
He started playing as a hobby and never thought he would rank first in the U15 boys’ singles, becoming one of the most recognisable youngsters in the country.
“My brothers played. I just found a passion for it. I started when I was young, for fun, but then stopped and went back two and half years ago. Being ranked number one in the country makes me feel good,” he said.
“I never thought I would be the top-ranked player in my division. I’ve always thought I would only play for fun but then I won.”
Winning became a habit and soon the bug bit, resulting in the youngster dedicating and committing himself to the sport.
In a short space of time, Van Tonder shot up the rankings and dominated the juniors’ category, joining his Eastern Gauteng Badminton Association (EGBA) teammates, Ricardo and Miguel Vigario and Yin Wen Li, as the future faces of the sport in the country.
This year, he won the Badminton SA (BSA) Triple Header Junior Open U15 boys’ singles, as well as the doubles with partner Ziming Chen. He was a runner-up in the mixed doubles with partner Michelle Wen.
He was a runner-up at the national U15 championships in Bloemfontein in March after losing 21-5, 21-11 to Chen. They teamed up in the doubles and clinched the national title, with Van Tonder finishing the tournament second overall.
Van Tonder is also ranked first in the doubles with Chen, while he is fifth in the mixed doubles with Wen.
“I’m inspired by my coach Dillan Schaap. He always tells me to keep on playing. I love the fast pace and adrenaline, as well as the friends I have made.
“The pressure is big because I have to keep working hard to stay on top. Some players want to be where I am. They also motivate me to stay on top of my game,” said Van Tonder.
The youngster would like to represent the country in the Olympic Games in the future but would first like to play in international tournaments to test himself against the best players of the world.
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