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Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Badminton global flashmob founder: “We will be back”

A milestone for badminton was recorded on 5th June 2011, when charitable foundation, SOLIBAD, entered history by performing the world's biggest flashmob in iconic landmarks across more than 65 cities in 40 countries.


The global flashmob was in part the celebration of the first birthday of SOLIBAD, also known as "Badminton Without Borders".


From the Pacific to Asia, Europe and eventually the Americas, the flashmob painted incredible images of badminton players of all ages, from all walks of life, taking a racket and performing a badminton 'dance' routine in front of astonished pedestrians.


Some were big flashmobs. Some small ones. Some under a bright sun. Some under pouring rain.


Regardless of the circumstances, the success of the inagural flashmob was evident and has already led SOLIBAD's founder, Raphael Sachetat, to promise a "bigger" flashmob with "other surprises" next year.


Some of the global flashmobs were led by top professional players - past and present.


In Indonesia, top women shuttlers, Greysia Polii and Vita Marissa, led the pack with former legend Hariyanto Arbi in Jakarta's Central Park Mall, at the public's biggest surprise. Malaysia saw the famous coach-player combination of Rexy Mainaky and Koo Kien Keat driving the action in front of Kuala Lumpur's Bukit Jalil Stadium, While the collective appeal of European men's singles aces Peter Gade, Jan O Jorgensen and Hans-Kristian Vittinghus drew in the crowd at Copenhagen's Axeltorv.


Amongst the amazing ordinary stories on the inaugural "Solibad Day" was 15 teenagers in France took the lift up to one of the highest points of Europe, and performed a flashmob wearing heavy coats under the snow to scoop a record for the world's highest flashmob.


And yet the most compelling flashmob was held at the 10th German International Para-badminton Championships in Dortmund, where SOLIBAD Ambassador David Toupe together with his friends and staff of the tournament launched a unique flashmob-on-wheels!


Watch the videos of the global badminton flashmob here to witness the happiness and joy this event brought to them and other participants across the world.

UPDATE RESULT :: Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold 2011

Day 1 - June 07
Women's Singles Qualification - First Round
Maria Kristin Yulianti (Indonesia x4) beat Natnicha Benchapanyanukul (Thailand) 21-10 21-18

Mixed Doubles Qualification - First Round
Mohd Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid/Lim Yin Loo (Malaysia x4) beat I Gusti Komang Wijaya/Variella Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsari (Indonesia) 21-19 21-16
Riky Widianto/Shendy Puspa Irawati (Indonesia) beat Shohei Hoshino/Shiho Tanaka (Japan) 21-11 21-18

Men's Singles Qualification - First Round
Thammasin Sitthikom (Thailand) beat Riyanto Subagja (Indonesia x5) 20-22 21-17 21-14
Khosit Phetpradab (Thailand) beat Adi Pratama (Indonesia) 17-21 21-13 21-17

Women's Doubles Qualification - First Round
Keshya Nurvita Hanadia/Variella Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsari (Indonesia) beat Rassanan Phetmaneelumkha/Woraruthai Ruengtananruk (Thailand) 21-7 21-16
Pacharakamol Arkornsakul/Kititharakul Chonthicha (Thailand) beat Rintan Apriliana/Soong Fie Cho (Indonesia/Malaysia) 21-16 19-21 22-20

Men's Doubles Qualification - First Round
Markus Fernaldi Gideon/Agripina Prima Rahmanto Putra (Indonesia x3) - Su Yi Neng/Tseng Min Hao (Chinese Taipei) 21-14 21-14
Chan Tsz Kit/Lo Lok Kei (Hongkong) beat Erwin Wihardi Gunawan/Candra Wijaya (Indonesia) Walkover
Andhika Anhar/I Gusti Komang Wijaya (Indonesia) beat Chan Chong Ming/Lee Wan Wah (Malaysia) 14-21 24-22 21-12
Hiroyuki Saeki/Ryota Taohata (Japan) beat Andrei Adistia/Christopher Rusdianto (Indonesia x4) 21-17 21-15

Women's Singles Qualification - Second Round
Maria Kristin Yulianti (Indonesia x4) beat Pai Yu Po (Chinese Taipei)  21-16 21-23 21-13


Mixed Doubles Qualification - Final Round
Riky Widianto/Shendy Puspa Irawati (Indonesia) beat Mohd Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid/Lim Yin Loo (Malaysia x4) 21-17 21-16


Women's Doubles Qualification - Final Round
Keshya Nurvita Hanadia/Variella Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsari (Indonesia) beat Pacharakamol Arkornsakul/Kititharakul Chonthicha (Thailand) 21-15 21-15


Men's Doubles Qualification - Final Round
Markus Fernaldi Gideon/Agripina Prima Rahmanto Putra (Indonesia x3) beat Chan Tsz Kit/Lo Lok Kei (Hongkong) 17-21 21-14 21-12
Hiroyuki Saeki/Ryota Taohata (Japan) beat Andhika Anhar/I Gusti Komang Wijaya (Indonesia) 21-15 19-21 21-15


Women's Singles Qualification - Final Round
Sayaka Takahashi (Japan) beat Maria Kristin Yulianti (Indonesia x4) 21-11 Retired