Bongani’s badminton dream

by Chrizaan Pretorius | May 4, 2020 | Sports

CHRIZAAN PRETORIUS

Bongani van Bodenstein is 23 years old and represented South Africa for badminton in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, and was a University Sports South Africa (USSA) triple time winner for three consecutive years.

PDBY spoke to van Bodenstein about his passion for the fastest racket sport in the world (that reaches over 470 km/h in speed) and is played all year -round with no off season. Van Bodenstein told PDBY that his love for this sport derives from of his constant search for new experiences, and badminton offered him the opportunity to meet new people, while traveling across the country to compete on an elite level. Moreover, van Bodenstein added that his biggest dream is to compete at the Olympic Games and to bring back a medal for South Africa, but generally speaking it is important to build on smaller goals that will lead to the achievement of bigger goals later on. Some of these goals include to get his singles ranking to top 10 and his doubles ranking with his partner, Jason Mann, to top 3.

 

“his biggest dream is to compete at the Olympic Games and to bring back a medal for South Africa”

 

TuksBadminton is one of the many sports offered at UP, making it possible for various players to fulfil their ambitions by providing a foundation of community, equipment, facilities, and leadership under their manager, Ilze Wicksell. Bongani also admits that no dream goes without disappointment, stating that, “the advice I would give to any sportsman/woman is that disappointment has the power to shape you if you let it, not all failure needs to have negative residual effects. Draw motivation from that feelings you felt when you lost and work every day to rectify those mistakes in a positive and healthy way”. Given these points, van Bodenstein added that he is keeping fit during lockdown with a weekly program from their National Coach Stewart Carson and a strict diet.

By and large van Bodenstein says that for anyone eager to professionally compete on any sport level, it does not go without sacrificing certain things and requires perseverance, determination and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, comparatively adding that “[…] I really enjoy being outdoors and just spending time with friends and making them feel appreciated”. Badminton all in all is a wonderful, but physically demanding sport. It does not only challenge the mind, but also a person’s mental capacity. Van Bodenstein enjoys the challenges badminton has to offer, and enjoys competing in the unknowingly competitive sport.

Illustration: Mashudu Madzhiga

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