Coach Robbie back for badminton training camp

Robbie Thackham, Badminton Oceania Coaching and Development manager, is back on Saipan for a weeklong badminton training camp for 20 junior badminton players at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Along with the local players, two Guam badminton players tagged along in the six-day training camp that started last Tuesday and will end this Sunday.

Thackham, who’s on his fourth visit to Saipan already, said that the training camp consists of morning and afternoon sessions.

The morning sessions are more on badminton footwork, cardio, and conditioning. The afternoon/evening sessions are more on technical skills.

Assisting Thackham in the camp is New Zealand badminton player Edward Lau, who is also competing in the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024 that is slated for July 2 to 7 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

With already three other clinics he’s hosted in the past, Thackham said the skill level has developed since the last time he visited in October. “The quality is much better this time and they’re more prepared, so I can push them a little bit harder and put some more tougher training into them.”

At the same time, he was back on island for a coaching course that eight NMI players attended. Then, after the training camp, he’ll stay for the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024.

There, he said, “I’ll start off doing some stringing in the tournament, but some of these players in the camp, I’ll help them with their first matches.”

For the junior players who will compete in the upcoming tourney, he said, “It’s just the experience for them. They’re obviously going to be competing against some of the top players in the world, but the biggest thing is the experience. You don’t get better unless you can see international badminton. So, it’s key that the tournaments are here because they get to actually experience what the top players in the world look like. Otherwise, if you don’t see that, it’s hard to aim and improve to that level.”

He added that it’s great there are more international tournaments that will be played here. “When I looked at the draws, there are so many strong players that will come and play this tournament. It’s one of the strongest—Grade 3 international tournaments in the Oceania region. This year it’ll be different because it’s not an Olympic qualifier, but the quality of the players are still really, really high.”

Abigael Robles, for her part, said of the camp, “It’s been really fun. I’ve been looking forward to it for a really long time.” On what was the key takeaway for her, she said, “talent is something that you have, but it’s nothing if you don’t work hard.” As she is 19, she is one of other NMI players competing in the U19 2024 BWF Badminton World Junior Championships in China later this year.

For 16-year-old Dave Odicta, he also said the camp is fun. On what he thinks of Thackham, he said, “He’s a really motivating man. He really helps with badminton skills, our technical skills, and our footwork everyday—that’s good of him as a coach, especially since he flew all the way from New Zealand.”

He is competing in the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024, and as a young player, he said, “I’m excited but also nervous. But I want to learn more from new players and get insights on their play style and technical skills.”