Badminton champs attract many

THE recent Namibian Open Championships in Oranjemund were attended by about 60 players from all over Namibia and the northern regions of South Africa.

Competition was fierce, as this was the biggest and last tournament of the year. The reigning Namibian champion Alfred Somaili persevered in the men’s singles by beating visiting Griquas player LD Erasmus in two exhausting sets 21:15 and 21:15.In the women’s singles however, the reigning Namibian champion Ella Scholtz was beaten by visiting Griquas player Martinet Burger 12:21, 21:14 and 20:22.Scholtz got her revenge by winning the women’s doubles with her partner Lynn du Preez 21:17 and 21:18 against Martinet Burger and Arlenca Erasmus.In the men’s doubles, the Griquas pair of LD Erasmus and Coetzer Fourie in a tense game narrowly beat the reigning Namibian champion pairing of Leon Koch and Louis Kotze 21:17 and 22:20.Leon Koch and Lynn du Preez, reigning Namibian champions in the mixed doubles, lost the mixed doubles finals in a close contest against the Griquas champions, LD and Arlenca Erasmus 18:21, 21:18 and 16:21.In the various South African provincial championships that Namibia participated in this year, Griquas are playing one or two sections above Namibia.A new executive committee was elected at the annual general meeting of the Badminton Union of Namibia held during the same event: Leon Koch of Outjo replaced the retiring Andre du Toit as chairperson of the Union and Eddie Ward of Windhoek was elected vice-chairperson.Melanie Campbell was elected as the new Treasurer while Axel Rothauge stayed on as Secretary of the Union.It was decided to enter a Namibian team in the Melville championships in South Africa next year, the highest-level tournament on the sub-continent and also try to get into the Zone 6 tournament of the All Africa championships, as the depth of badminton in Namibia has increased sufficiently during the year.Participation at these events has proved a major challenge to Namibian badminton players and they will have to maintain their level of fitness during the coming off-season to be ready early next year.The reigning Namibian champion Alfred Somaili persevered in the men’s singles by beating visiting Griquas player LD Erasmus in two exhausting sets 21:15 and 21:15.In the women’s singles however, the reigning Namibian champion Ella Scholtz was beaten by visiting Griquas player Martinet Burger 12:21, 21:14 and 20:22.Scholtz got her revenge by winning the women’s doubles with her partner Lynn du Preez 21:17 and 21:18 against Martinet Burger and Arlenca Erasmus.In the men’s doubles, the Griquas pair of LD Erasmus and Coetzer Fourie in a tense game narrowly beat the reigning Namibian champion pairing of Leon Koch and Louis Kotze 21:17 and 22:20.Leon Koch and Lynn du Preez, reigning Namibian champions in the mixed doubles, lost the mixed doubles finals in a close contest against the Griquas champions, LD and Arlenca Erasmus 18:21, 21:18 and 16:21.In the various South African provincial championships that Namibia participated in this year, Griquas are playing one or two sections above Namibia.A new executive committee was elected at the annual general meeting of the Badminton Union of Namibia held during the same event: Leon Koch of Outjo replaced the retiring Andre du Toit as chairperson of the Union and Eddie Ward of Windhoek was elected vice-chairperson.Melanie Campbell was elected as the new Treasurer while Axel Rothauge stayed on as Secretary of the Union.It was decided to enter a Namibian team in the Melville championships in South Africa next year, the highest-level tournament on the sub-continent and also try to get into the Zone 6 tournament of the All Africa championships, as the depth of badminton in Namibia has increased sufficiently during the year.Participation at these events has proved a major challenge to Namibian badminton players and they will have to maintain their level of fitness during the coming off-season to be ready early next year.