By Coach Dick Yip

Thitirat

Thitirat Triyachart. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)

Xinmin Secondary, Tuesday, February 13, 2007 – Thitirat, of Xinmin Secondary School, comes from a well-known badminton playing family in Thailand. Except for her father, her family members are badminton champions.

Coach:  "Watching the excellent way you play and move on the court makes me curious. Where, how and when did you learn to play like that?"

Thitirat:  "I started playing the game at  age 7 in Bangkok.  It was my mother who taught me to play and coached me.  She also taught my sister and two brothers.  My mother, who is named Darunee, was once the Singles Champion in Thailand, about 20 years ago.

Coach:  "Where are your brothers and sister now?"

Thitirat:  "My younger brother, Chanon is in Montfort Primary playing for them.  My kid sister ,Natthaporn, is at Rosyth Primary.  She plays for them too.  Chayut, my 18 year old elder brother, was an ex-Montfort player.  He is now with the Singapore National Team."

Coach:   "And where is your mother now? Why did she choose to put you in Xinmin?"
Thitirat:  "My mom is in Singapore.  She used to regularly play badminton in Xinmin with her friends. And her friends recommended her to put me here."

Coach:   "You joined the school last year.  How would you describe your experience in this school so far?"

Thitirat:  "I am very happy here. I really like the school very much. My friends make me feel at home. Some of them are also from Thailand and I can speak to them in Thai too!"

Results

North Zone B Division Girls

Xinmin 5 Bowen 0

1st singles:  Jacinta Koh beat Alisa Tan 11-1, 11-0
1st doubles:  Shinna Lim/Nicole Lin beat Yu Xiomin/Oh Wen Wen 15-1, 15-1
2nd singles:  Tanapat beat Janani Ravindran 11-0 , 11-0
2nd doubles:  Annabelle Pei/Jeolyn Keong beat Khoo Yen Li/Mill Ng 15-0,15-0  
3rd singles:  Thitirat beat Chng Hui Min 11-1, 11-1

S’pore Sports School 5 St Joseph’s Convent 0

North Zone C Division Girls

Xinmin 3 St Joseph’s Convent 2 (read the match report)

Ang Mo Kio 5 Christchurch 0