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Surprise
The Uzwil badminton club also wins its last two games and is in second place in the NLA after the first half of the season
After two more victories at the weekend, BC Uzwil is the first pursuer of leader Lausanne in the Badminton NLA during the winter break. New signings and our own talents impressed in the first half of the season.
Image caption: Zvonimir Durkinjak (front) and Liano Panza impressed in the men’s doubles before the winter break.
Image: Matthias Zindel
The Uzwil badminton club continues its winning streak in the National League A. Both the away game against Brig and the home game against Argovia Uzwil with 5:3. The Eastern Swiss team surprisingly ended the first half of the season in second place in the table.
After the victorious double round at the weekend, player-coach Iztok Utrosa has a mischievous smile on his face. At the moment his team is succeeding in almost everything. Uzwil wins six of its first seven NLA championship rounds and only loses one game – against leader Lausanne. Iztok Utrosa’s conclusion is positive: “It couldn’t have been expected that we would be in second place with so many juniors.”
Filmed two games in Brig
The reasons for Uzwil’s soaring heights are varied. The most important building block is probably the harmony in the team. Various team members confirm in unison that the mood is very good. This also has a playful effect. While the Uzwil team struggled with their competitive luck several times last season, they are winning the majority of the close games in the current season.
This was also the case on Saturday in Brig. In the men’s singles, Victor Svendsen already had his back to the wall when he furiously turned the game around and won in five sets. The same scenario was repeated in the men’s doubles, where Durkinjak/Panza turned the tables at the last moment.
The game a day later in front of the home crowd against Argovia was less exciting. In an unspectacular encounter, Uzwil won the decisive games and impressed with a solid and balanced team performance.
Newcomer Svendsen wins all singles
Nevertheless, some players from the Uzwil collective deserve special mention. There is the newly signed Victor Svendsen, who impressed across the board in the first half of the season. The Dane won all of his games in the first men’s singles and he also showed strong performances in the men’s doubles.
“He is the biggest surprise in the Uzwil team,” sums up Iztok Utrosa. “The two new additions Svendsen and Tabeling brought new impetus to the team.” From the group of young homegrown players, 18-year-old Liano Panza stands out in terms of performance. Within a very short time, the young talent found his feet in the highest Swiss league and attracted attention with strong performances in the men’s doubles. He won five of seven games.
Milena Schnider and Cheryl Seinen are convincing among the women. Together they are probably one of the strongest women in the league.
There is now a break in the National League A. The second half of the season starts on January 12th. Iztok Utrosa looks forward to the new year with confidence: “We are on course for the playoffs.”
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Editor: Good day ladies and gentlemen, we are here today with Zvonimir Durkinjak, one of the professional badminton doubles players from BC Uzwil and Iztok Utrosa, the team’s coach, to discuss their recent success in the National League A. Firstly, can you tell us how does it feel to be in second place at the end of the first half of the season, especially given the number of juniors in your team? What were the key factors that helped you achieve this position?
Zvonimir: It feels great! We always believed in ourselves and our abilities, but to be honest, none of us expected to be in this position with so many younger players in the team. I think the key factor was the chemistry among the players, our commitment to the sport, and the hard work we have put in both individually and as a team. We also had some good luck along the way, winning most of the close games.
Editor: Indeed, it seems like the team’s dynamic and unity are crucial to your success. How important has the signing of Victor Svendsen been for the team? Can you tell us more about his role and his contribution?
Iztok: Victor Svendsen has been a fantastic addition to our team. He brought new energy and experience to the table, which has been invaluable. He is a complete athlete, and his skills in all disciplines have helped us tremendously. He has consistently won his singles matches and played a crucial role in the men’s doubles with Zvonimir. His presence has lifted the overall standard of our team and motivated everyone to push harder.
Editor: That’s an excellent point. Victor Svendsen is indeed a key player for the team. Moving on to Liano Panza, he has made quite an impression as an 18-year-old in the league. Can you share your thoughts on his journey and development?
Zvonimir: Liano is a tremendous talent, and it’s been amazing to see his growth this season. He is still quite young, but he has shown maturity beyond his years on the court. His footwork and smashes are his strengths, and he has learned to control his emotions well. He has also gained valuable experience playing alongside me, which has helped him adapt to the professional level quickly.
