Badminton
With the wrap up of the 2010 season the attention now shifts to 2011. Who will be the favorites in the upcoming year?
SINGLES
1. Olamide Fadahunsi of Johnson finished second in 2010 and would like to wrap up her career with a matching 2012 gold medal to go with her 2009 prize.
2. Ziyue Chen of Eden Prairie went three sets with Fadahunsi in the semifinals. Look for Chen to be the #1 EP singles next year.
3. Eh Khee Tut of Johnson is the most dangerous #2 coming back. She lost to Chen in the 3rd place game in three sets.
4. Gao Thoa of Harding beat champ Ka Neng Vue during the team semis.
Others that will be making an impact will be
Nhu Richards of Highland Park
May Yang of Como Park
Youngsters Law Law of Central and Gao Lee of Highland Park will also be making waves.
Lisa Yin of Minneapolis Southwest is an exchange student and it is unclear whether she will be returning. This year she was the #4 seed in the state tournament and fell to #5 Chen in the quarters.
DOUBLES
Harding will have three players that have won doubles titles.
1. Kim Her/Xai Yang of Harding are the 2010 doubles champs
2. Melissa Vang/Nitsan Chang of Central made it to the final four
Others to consider: Mai Chang of Harding won the 2009 title. It is unclear who her new partner will be, or if she will move to singles. Henry's Tanesha Williams/Shoua Vang have won two straight Minneapolis titles. They want to make a bigger impact at state next year.
TEAM
It will all come down to the east side of St. Paul again. Johnson stopped the Harding five peat. Will Harding stop the Johnson repeat?
