Stars

Mother, son fight as partners at Sudirman Cup

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-27 20:06

QINGDAO, Shandong - Svetlana Zilberman, coach of Israel's badminton team, paired up with her son Misha Zilberman in the mixed doubles clash at the ongoing Sudirman Cup.

Related readings: China enjoys smooth progress at Asian badminton champs  Top foreign players appear in China's badminton league

"Badminton is not popular in Israel, and there are only three professional shuttlers," the 47-year-old Svetlana said. "In order to be qualified for this team championship, I have to be a coach and mixed doubles player."

Israel, classified in the Level Four at the 12th Sudirman Cup, won only one out of its all four matches.

"The results are too bad, so I really don't know how to comment our performances," Svetlana said.

Starting to play badminton at the age of 12, Svetlana moved from Russia to Israel in 1995, as her husband was invited to coach Israel's badminton team.

Since their arrival in Israel, Misha began to learn badminton. "I has been fond of playing badminton in my childhood, because I saw my parents playing it all the time," Misha said.

Svetlana took over her husband's job and started to pair with her son in mixed doubles in 1999, as there are few professional female shuttlers in Israel.

Although there are a lot of badminton clubs in the country, but few people would like to turn professional as they can't make big money, Misha said.

"While playing with my mother on court, I just see her as my partner instead of mother or coach," Misha said. "And we can communicate with simple glances and gestures because we are so familiar with each other."

Svetlana and Misha played three mixed doubles matches for Israel at this Sudirman Cup and won one over Seychelles. And Misha won two men's single matches out of four.

"As Israel is placed in the fourth level and don't have qualification to compete for the Cup, we just come here for some good experiences," Svetlana said.

"World top badminton players are playing at the Sudirman Cup, so it is beneficial for our young players to learn from them and they will know how to continue to work on their training," she said.

With the competitions of the fourth level ending on Thursday, Svetlana and Misha will leave for Israel on Saturday morning.