Interview with Sportslady of the Year 2007 Juliette Ah-Wan-“I’m happy I’m the best” |30 January 2008
Juliette Ah-Wan: You think so? It all started with the African Senior Championship in Mauritius where I won the mixed doubles gold medal with Georgie (Cupidon) and the team event gold medal. After winning the mixed doubles gold medal at the Ninth All-Africa Games, I was sure of a top-two finish in the Sports Awards of the Year crowning ceremony. I’ve now lived the dream a second time in my career. I remember telling myself that I have to win the coveted title a second time after the first win in 2000. I’ve worked hard and I’m happy that I’m the best even though it has taken me seven years to be again regarded as the best. I have to thank my mother, my boyfriend, my coaches, the Seychelles government, the Seychelles Badminton Association, the National Sports Council, the Seychelles National Olympic Committee (Snoc) and all those who helped me in one way or another. I must not forget Georgie (Cupidon) my mixed doubles partner.
Sports Nation: There are critics who say that a mixed doubles gold medal is the effort of two persons and cannot be compared to a gold medal won by an individual athlete. Do you agree with this statement?
Juliette Ah-Wan: This is the nature of the sport I practice and I can’t change the rules of the game. A doubles match is played by two pairs and there is no way one team can have just one player. We work hard in all competitions as we play many matches.
Sports Nation: You’ve now joined the team of two-time winners and the record of three wins is being held by weightlifter Janet Thélermont. Do you think you can match her achievement?
Juliette Ah-Wan: To be frank, I would like to win the title a third time and why not more than three times. I can’t predict anything that is going to happen with me. I might pick up an injury tomorrow and my career could be over. All depend on the will of the Good Lord. But I hope I continue to stay fit to win competitions and the Sportslady of the Year title on many more occasions.
Sports Nation: With your partner Georgie Cupidon, you are bidding to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games. How confident are you in getting an Olympic slot?
Juliette Ah-Wan: It’s a tough challenge and like I said earlier on, we compete but it is God who gives us the power, the energy and the will to conquer. We need Him by our sides wherever we go. We’ve been making a lot of sacrifices, leaving our family and loved ones behind to compete abroad. Right now, we are the number one mixed doubles pair in Africa but we never know if other African pairs could decide to compete in high level competitions and amass points. As two individuals forming the mixed doubles pair, we have to stay focused, understand each other on the court to keep claiming the scalps of our opponents. We also need luck on our sides.
Sports Nation: Was it easy for Georgie and you to gel to form a formidable mixed doubles pair?
Juliette Ah-Wan: At first it was very tough. We could never get along well on the court. We played together but we always finished at the foot of the medals podium or out of the medals ranking. This is because we are both quick-tempered and could not understand each other. Neither him, nor me would want to give in when involved in a discussion. Then our coaches and other people involved in badminton talked to us, telling us to be patient and to better understand each other. We heeded their advice and we tried talking to each other. This is how we’ve reached this far. Now I see Georgie and I as brother and sister on the court. We understand each other very well and encourage one another when there is a need to.
Sports Nation: As an athlete, you’ve accomplished a lot in your career. What is left for you to aspire to?
Juliette Ah-Wan: As all sportsmen and women, my dream is to qualify for the Olympic Games although I know it’s a tall order. I would also like to win the Sportslady of the Year title more than three times. After that I’ll start thinking about the end my career.
Sports Nation: Are you saying that you could stop playing badminton in the years ahead?
Juliette Ah-Wan: No. But life can reserve a lot of surprises to us all. I don’t know when my career as a badminton player will be over.
Sports Nation: Have you thought about being involved in badminton after you decide to say stop?
Juliette Ah-Wan: Before knowing success myself, I was involved with coaching of very young players. I taught them the basics of badminton, but my weakness was a lack of patience. But I can say that I have gradually developed this part of my character and I’ve mellowed over the years. I would very much like to help with the coaching of very young girls.
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Fact File
Name: Juliette Ah-Wan
Date of birth: April 29, 1981
Debut in badminton: In 1995 at the age of 14 on the advice of her friend Vanessa Créa
1997: Ladies’ doubles bronze medallist at the All-Africa Junior Championship in Botswana
Team event bronze medallist at the All-Africa Junior Championship in Botswana
Young Female Athlete of the Year
1998: Women’s team event silver medallist at the Fifth IOIG in Reunion
Ladies’ singles bronze medallist at the Fifth IOIG in Reunion
Young Female Athlete of the Year
1999: Ladies’ singles gold medallist at the Kenya Open tournament
Ladies’ doubles gold medallist at the Kenya Open tournament
Mixed doubles gold medallist at the Kenya Open tournament
Voting Outstanding Performer at the Kenya Open tournament
Ladies’ doubles bronze medallist at the All-Africa Junior Championship in South Africa
Young Female Athlete of the Year
Runner-up to Sportslady of the Year Sophia Vandagne
Ladies’ doubles gold medallist at the Jeux de la CJSOI in Seychelles
Mixed doubles silver medallist at the Jeux de la CJSOI in Seychelles
Women’s team event silver medallist at the Jeux de la CJSOI in Seychelles
Ladies’ singles bronze medallist at the Jeux de la CJSOI in Seychelles
2000: Ladies’ singles gold medallist at the Kenya Open tournament
Ladies’ doubles gold medallist at the Kenya Open tournament
Mixed doubles gold medallist at the Kenya Open tournament
Voted Sportslady of the Year
2001: Mixed doubles silver medallist at the Mauritius Open
Ladies’ singles bronze medallist at the Mauritius Open
Ladies’ doubles bronze medallist at the Mauritius Open
2002: Ladies' singles gold medallist at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Casablanca, Morocco
Ladies’ doubles bronze medallist at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Casablanca, Morocco
Ladies’ doubles bronze medallist at the South Africa Open
Ladies’ singles bronze medallist at the South Africa Open
Runner-up to Sportslady of the Year Janet Thélermont
2003: Mixed doubles gold medallist with Georgie Cupidon at the Sixth IOIG in Mauritius
Ladies’ singles silver medallist at the Sixth IOIG in Mauritius
Ladies’ doubles silver medallist at the Sixth IOIG in Mauritius
Team event silver medallist at the Sixth IOIG in Mauritius
Mixed team event bronze medallist at the Eighth All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria
Ladies’ singles bronze medallist at the Eighth All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria
Ladies’ doubles bronze medallist with Shirley Etienne at the Eighth All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria
Fourth overall in the Sports Awards of the Year crowning ceremony
2004: Ladies’ doubles bronze medallist at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Mauritius
Team event bronze medallist at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Mauritius
Fourth overall in the Sports Awards of the Year crowning ceremony
2005: Mixed doubles silver medallist at the Mauritius Open
Ladies’ doubles bronze medallist at the Mauritius Open
2006: Ladies' singles gold medallist at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Algiers, Algeria
Mixed doubles gold medallist with Georgie Cupidon at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Algiers, Algeria
Ladies’ doubles silver medallist with Catherina Paulin at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Algiers, Algeria
Team event bronze medallist at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Algiers, Algeria
Ladies’ Team event bronze medallist of the Thomas & Uber Cup in Mauritius
Third overall in the Sports Awards of the Year crowning ceremony
2007: Mixed doubles gold medallist with Georgie Cupidon at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Mauritius
Ladies’ doubles bronze medallist with Catherina Paulin at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Mauritius
Team event gold medallist at the African Senior Badminton Championship in Mauritius
Mixed doubles silver medallist with Georgie Cupidon in the Mauritius Open
Mixed doubles gold medallist with Georgie Cupidon at the Ninth All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria
Team event bronze medallist at the Ninth All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria
Voted Sportslady of the Year
Ah-Wan has also participated in the China Open (in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007), Hong Kong Super Series (in 2007), French Open Super Series (in 2007) and the World Championship (in 2007)
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