Officers
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 President: Dawn Patel (Indianapolis, IN)
Term: 2005-2008
How did you get into badminton?
You mean that sissy sport! That is what I said to Karen Early when I transferred to Eastern Illinois University my junior year of college. I was taking Methods of Teaching and Coaching Gymnastics with Dr. ROBERT Hussey. Karen Early was in my class. She tried to tell me badminton was a competitive sport at EIU, that she was on a scholarship and captain of the women’s team. I laughed at her for 3 months. EIU had a club that played at 6:00 am. I was not getting up that early to go play some sissy game! The semester was almost over and she started crying because I still did not believe her. Dr. ROBERT Hussey told me Karen was telling the truth. I felt so bad for making her cry that I said I would try it out. The EIU badminton club members knew I was coming and made sure I ran my little butt off without ever touching a shuttle.
I loved the variety of speeds, body movements and quick decision making. I was also looking for a way to get a better workout in less time. Badminton is one of the most anaerobic and aerobic workouts you can do in such a short time! I decided it would be a good lifetime sport!
Before that it had only been team sports for me. My mother does take credit for starting me in the backyard over the clothesline! The friends I have made will keep me involved with this sport for a lifetime!
Why do you serve on the board?
I feel that my unusual background of experiences gives me a unique insight when dealing with the concerns of the MBA members. I have always felt that all ages and abilities need equal representation for our sport. There are so few women who have had the opportunity to be a player on our national team, coach and train athletes at the highest level in several different sports, as well as teach exercise physiology, biomechanics, sports psychology, and other methods courses for 23 years at the university level. I also was the director and chairman for many events in several different sports.
I encourage each and every one of you to find a passion and enjoy it! Bharat and I love doing all that we do for badminton. The relationships make it all worth while.
Your Badminton Hero:
Past:
Rudy Harton and Morten Frost, as well as the “China Dolls” that competed in the 4th IBF World Champinships held in Calgary, Canada in 1985 where I played singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles for the US. Linda French and I played against the #1 WD team from China in the first round. Han Aiping was the WS Champ. She partnered with Li Lingei to win the WD title. I was very fortunate to get to compete and enjoyed the entire experience.
Present:
I was assisting Sombat Dhamabusaya with strength and conditioning for our top juniors at a camp held at the Olympic Training Center the first time I saw Howard Back springing around the court so effortlessly. I fell in love with him there and again when he was a player on the team I coached during one of the Olympic Festivals. Bharat and I were so excited to be able to witness the history making 2005 World Championships when he won the gold medal in men’s doubles!
Future:
Ben Hussey gives me hope for the future! Since I never would have fallen in love with this sport if it was not for the Hussey family I have to say I am quite prejudice about what I see in Ben. I look forward to seeing him on the international badminton circuit. By the time he is at that level it would be great if Ben could be paid and appreciated as a pro in the US.
Your Non-badminton hero: I have many including my mother and Babe Didrikson.
I was doing a book report to complete a seventh grade assignment when I became so impressed with Babe Didrikson. At that time there were very few organized sport opportunities for females and she proved herself in several sports at the highest level of competition.
Favorite hobby/sport besides badminton:
I love laughing, traveling, eating, art, music, gardening and staying active with family and friends!
Favorite breakfast food: Dry Cereal: Kashi Puffed Grains.
Cold weather: Hot oatmeal and fresh fruit, especially berries!
I love a big breakfast like Belgian waffles with pecans, scrambled eggs, and potatoes anytime of day or night, but I don’t eat it very often.
Favorite drink: Wine: Merlot; Beer: New Castle Brown Ale; Tea: Darjeeling; Coffee: black/espresso
Favorite indulgence: Ghirardelli’s’ 60% dark chocolate! I am rewarding myself with some right now for getting this info updated. I reward myself quite often!
Oh, and I can’t forget how much I love Haagen Dazs ice cream! When I use to train at Manhattan Beach with Sombat Dhamabusaya my reward each day was to go and have a Haagen Dazs banana split! Bharat and I use to eat a pint EACH DAY and stack up the container’s when on vacations back when we both had a high metabolism. (BRING BACK THE GOOD OLE’ DAYS!)
Biggest pet peeve: People with egos that should not have them, especially if you can not trust what they say! I do not enjoy being around negativity, in general.
Last thing you read: Mad Science/NASA training manuals for my part-time job teaching after-school programs, doing weekend birthday parties, as well as workshops at the area libraries.
I also just finished reading “The Flower Gardener’s Bible” to help me with bids I am working on for my landscaping business, Dawnscapes! Take time to enjoy everything and everyone around you!
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Vice-President: Position Open
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 Secretary: Mary Ann Bowles (St. Louis, MO)
Term: 2006-2009
How did you get into badminton?
I took badminton as a P.E. credit my sophomore year in college.
The professor was a tournament badminton player. She took four of us in
the class to a tournament, and I was hooked! At the tournament were the
U.S. Men's Doubles national champions, Don Paup and Jim Poole. I was blown
away with their speed, strength, and court strategy!
Why do you serve on the board?
My passion and love for the sport made me want to give back after I
played for a decade. The sport needed and still needs so much help to
grow--how can one not want to help?
Your Badminton Hero:
Howard Bach--I saw him play at 10 years old and win a junior
national title--have followed his career to the gold medal at the Worlds in
Anaheim in 2005, and beyond.
Your Non-badminton hero: My 94-year-old mother!
Favorite hobby/sport besides badminton: Vegetable gardening
Favorite breakfast food: Hot oatmeal with fresh blueberries
Favorite drink: Pomegranate juice
Favorite indulgence: A slice of coconut cream pie
Biggest pet peeve: People who talk too much, especially when they don't know what they're talking about!
Last thing you read: The Secret
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 Treasurer:
Alice Wunderlich (Mount Prospect, IL)
Term: 2004-2008
How did you get into badminton?
In college, when I tried out for the
volleyball team, one of the coaches suggested I try badminton. After
college I didn't play again for 15 years until I realized that
badminton
was played in the area where I lived. I love to play.
Why do you serve on the board?
I have participated in many tournaments
that others have organized and realize it's time to give back a to the
badminton community a little.
Your Badminton Hero:
Dottie O'Neill, who played when it was very
unusual
for a woman to take the game seriously and train. She supported herself
and became an outstanding player, without the benefit of coaching. She
is also a very effective coach and has hosted badminton camps, coached
and hosted badminton tournaments for many years.
Your Non-badminton hero: My mother, who raised 9 children and also had
her own professional career outside the home.
Favorite hobby/sport besides badminton:
Visiting my
family,swimming,walking,yard work.
Favorite breakfast food: Glazed donuts
Favorite drink: Water
Favorite indulgence: I travel frequently for work. I like to arrive
early and walk for several hours around the area.
Biggest pet peeve: Airline delays
Last thing you read: I read the comics in the newspaper every day. |
Directors
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Kishore Subramanyam (Mason, OH)
Term: 2007-2010
How did you get into badminton?
I have always liked this sport. Started about 3 years back.
Why do you serve on the board?
Badminton is a minor sport here. It is a challenge to do anything or get anything done due to various constraints. Being on
the Board will help me to help and manage the sport and events and propel the changes to grow the popularity of the sport.
Your Badminton Hero:
No one in particular. Although I like watching Andy Chong play. Another is
Sandro Rossi whenever he plays in the same tournaments as I do.
Your Non-badminton hero: No one in particular. I believe in myself.
Favorite hobby/sport besides badminton:
I am a distance runner and run races regularly. I ran the Columbus marathon last year. I have run the Cincinnati Flying Pig half marathons a few times and countless other 5K, 10K, 15K races. I have also done White Water rafting, hiking (the best has been the 14 hour hike in Grand Canyon from the top to the Colorado river and back), trekking (the best have been in various national forests), camping, parasailing and various other recreational sports.
Favorite breakfast food: Nothing
in particular
Favorite drink:
Water
Favorite indulgence:
Running a business
Biggest pet peeve:Quite a few to mention although I let everything slide.
Last thing you read: I am a voracious reader and read business, technical, scientific and
non-fiction on a regular basis.
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Wayne Wang (Bloomington, IN)
Term: 2007-2010
How did you get into badminton?
I played ever since I was little at the university club and started training when I met Arthur Zhu, my coach.
Why do you serve on the board?
I serve on the board to work on the rankings of players.
Your Badminton Hero:
Lin Dan
Your Non-badminton hero: James Bond
Favorite hobby/sport besides badminton:
Track and Field
Favorite breakfast food: Eggs and sausage
Favorite drink: Iced Tea
Favorite indulgence: Sleep
Biggest pet peeve: Sloppy eating
Last thing you read: Angels and Demons
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Jane Wang (St. Louis, MO)
Term: 2006-2009
How did you get into badminton?
I have two wonderful kids, James (12 years old) and Michael (9 years old), who are the junior badminton players. My husband, Wei Huang, who played badminton in college, was the initial coach of my two kids; of course, he taught me how to play badminton
too. I started playing badminton 4 years ago, after my kids competed in Junior Nationals and brought back the medals.
Why do you serve on the board?
I love to play badminton and my family loves to play badminton. Badminton has become our family sport and we have made many badminton friends. Badminton is
a fun game to play, but the public knows very little about it. I have helped to organize St Louis Chinese School Badminton Club, which has around 20 dedicated adult players and over 10
junior players. I want more and more people get to know badminton and have a chance to play
badminton. Specially, I will make efforts to foster our grass roots-junior badminton.
Your Badminton Hero:
My kids are my badminton heroes.
Your Non-badminton hero: Jane Fonda
Favorite hobby/sport besides badminton:
I enjoy cooking Chinese food.
Favorite breakfast food: I have not found my favorite breakfast food in the USA yet.
Favorite drink: My favorite drink is green tea.
Favorite indulgence: Spa treatments
Biggest pet peeve: The sound of scratching on a chalkboard
Last thing you read: How to Retire Early
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 Bob Ericson (Omaha, NE)
Term: 2006-2009
How did you get into badminton?
It was 1964. I was a 2nd lieutenant in the Air Force at Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts. My boss, a Lt Col, and I usually played handball together. One day, when the handball court was full, he asked if I wanted to play badminton instead. Like a good lieutenant I said, "yessir." He cleaned my clock. Wasn't too long before I was able to turn the tables on him and beat him on a regular basis-and I've been playing ever since.
Why do you serve on the board?
To promote the Olympic sport of badminton in the midwest and because I want to give back something to badminton which has given a lot to me: exercise and physical conditioning, a chance to stay young, the opportunity to meet many interesting and inspiring people, a chance to travel, a chance to meet and compete with new people, and, finally, do something about grass roots badminton.
Your Badminton Hero:
That's a toughie. Foremost would probably have to be Ray Scott. A close second would be Hugh Forgie, with Stan Hales, Jim Poole, Don Paup and Dot O'Neal not far behind
Your Non-badminton hero: Hands down, Superman.
Favorite hobby/sport besides badminton:
Easy-alpine skiing; drawing and watercolor painting. Creative Writing is now trying to horn in.
Favorite breakfast food: Jets or Krumbles but they're not made any more. So, I'd have to say Grape Nuts, coddled eggs or my wife's fluffy omelettes.
Favorite drink: Iced tea. Fruit smoothie a strong second.
Favorite indulgence: No contest. Chocolate chip cookies.
Biggest pet peeve: People not showing up on time.
Last thing you read: Damage Control by Robert Dugoni. |
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