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SDSC’s Exclusive Interview with Peter Gade!

Peter Gade Christensen - a name that any badminton fan would never fail to recognise. Since his first title at the World Junior Championships in 1994, Peter has won over 40 titles, including four European titles and one All-England title. Yet, aside from competitions, Peter was also recently selected as the patron for the European Badminton Confederation for the Disabled (EBDC). Loh Shih Ying does a quick check with Peter and finds out more.

SY (Shih Ying): In the recent World Championships at Kuala Lumpur, the Chinese coach Li Yongbo, responding to the major upsets at the tournament (Taufik Hidayat, Lee Chong Wei and Chen Jin were all eliminated in the first three rounds of the tournament) commented that the value of the men’s singles title is worth less than 5 Olympic Gold Medals. What do you think of his comment and how are you influenced by it while preparing for the Beijing Olympics?

PG (Peter Gade): Li Yongbo says a lot of things. It doesn’t matter to me what he’s saying. I’m ready to put in everything to be part of the top men’s singles and I am aiming for an Olympic medal. The men’s singles tournaments are very tough at the moment, but I’ll be ready to put up a fight. I still feel that I am able to beat many of the other players.

SY: Can you briefly tell us some of your responsibilities as the patron of the EBDC? What are some of the plans and activities you are involved in?

PG: Because I’m still active with my own career, there is a limit in the amount of time that i can take off to take part in activities to promote EBDC. But wherever it will be possible, I will be ready to take part in promoting disabled badminton in Europe and the rest of the world. I hope we can put even more focus on disabled badminton in the world in the years to come.

SY: Are there any plans you might have for Asia, in your new role as Patron for the EBDC?

PG: I would be very interested in doing some clinics in Singapore in the future. I have already been planning some arrangements in other areas. I’m sure I will be in Singapore some time after the Olympics. At the same time I would really like to do some clinics in Singapore for both the young and the senior players. I hereby send an open invitation to whoever may be interested. They can contact me via my website (http://www.petergade.net) and I’ll start planning towards, hopefully 2-3 clinics in 4 days – maybe for the period of October to November 2008. 

While players like Sun Jun, Hendrawan and Xia Xuanze – players during and after his time - have retired, Peter is yet still standing strong in the badminton circuit. His win at the Malaysia Open Super Series in January this year showed that he is still a strong contender for the Beijing Olympic gold medal.

SDSC wishes Peter all the best and hopes to bring him to Singapore soon to meet our local athletes!