There were a hundred people yesterday at the UQAM Sports Center, a hundred people for the Canadian university championships and a wonderful sport that our public has always ignored.
“They are participants, their friends and family, that’s it. And yet, at the London Olympics, the singles final was the most watched event. ”
The speaker is from Avignon, France, a member of the Citadins – not to be confused with the Carabins from the other French-speaking university. Floran Gaultier, an international relations student, is a fanatic.
“In Asia, badminton players are the equivalent of hockey players in Canada. But here you see the crowd … It doesn’t interest many people.
“It is important to write, Mr. Journalist, that we won a second consecutive Canadian championship. Last year, we won in Toronto, and this time, for the first major event organized at UQAM, we won at home. It should also be remembered that we beat the Carabins … ”Hey, another rivalry. It doesn’t take much to find yourself a target opponent.
Florent is injured in a leg, like his teammate Pierre-Étienne Pilote. We hurt ourselves a lot in badminton. Sudden movements are terrible for the knees, ankles, back …
Pilot: “Earlier, a player made his opponent vomit. It is a good sign for those who are not sick …
“The record for the speed of the flywheel is 421 km / h and held by Tan Bhun Han. You will notice that there are several participants of Asian origin. ”
Philippe Gaumond in the final
Philippe Gaumond lost the singles final to Ontarian Martin Giuffre. “He’s ranked third in Canada, he’s very good. I won the first set, then he recovered and crushed me. “
Gaumond, who was playing despite a thigh injury, is from Saint-Hyacinthe and is preparing to teach physical education. He’s a very big boy …
“My knees are very worn. I have already suffered a back injury which forced me to six months of rest.
“I love badminton because tactics and strategy are as important as athleticism. You can reverse the look of a match with an idea … There is no ideal physique. Anyone can play and win. A little one will generally be faster than me and more stable. Balance is very important.
“By placing myself for the final, I secured my place on the Canadian team for the Universiade to be held in Moscow.”
City dwellers sometimes have the opportunity to participate in competitions in Asia.
In the doubles final, Gaumond was paired with another Quebecer, but a Carabin, Philippe Charron. The two Philippe easily knocked out the University of Toronto representatives in quick straight sets.
Only a hundred spectators, but a warm atmosphere. Athletes from the various provinces often cross paths and communicate as old acquaintances would.
We were in the third basement of the UQAM sports center, rue Sanguinet. It took guts to build a campus in the very densely populated and occupied Latin Quarter. This is why the Townspeople do not have a football or soccer field, but huge underground gymnasiums, under the hectic city life.
UQAM has a good golf team that trains in the Laurentians. For the rest, they are gymnasium sports, basketball and badminton, for example. There is rock climbing on the entrance walls. You step into the Sports Center and there is a climber hanging on the wall three meters from you. Hello.
With this second consecutive Canadian badminton championship, we must conclude that UQAM has made good use of its small concrete campus.
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