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punam27
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Country: United States
State: California
Gender: Female
Interests: badminton, chocolate, sleeping, & traveling.
Occupation: Student
Message: message me
Member Since:
2/9/2004
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| Something New!!
I am sorry to say but my time on xanga may be coming to an end...
I have started my own website, mainly to try and help me get corporate sponsorship, but also because I have wanted one for a while. My new website will be mainly badminton related, which means I no longer have to blog here. The website is under a lot of construction at the moment, and will be totally reformatted when my sister has time to help me make it awesome. For now, I am using a standard template which means I have a lot of restrictions. Never the less, feel free to check it out. We will see in the future if I continue to use this xanga site for updates or if I only use my website to post information.
I have two URLs you can use either one
MomentsInBetween.com
JenniferColeman.net
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| BRAZIL INTERNATIONAL
Well, the best thing about this tournament was that I finally got entered into the draw and made it here safely. There was a huge problem with my entry which was noticed only a few days before I flew over here. I was more than elated to have it all solved before starting the tournament.
I came here alone so I only played singles. In comparison to last year, and in 2004 when I played this tournament I did much better. However, in comparison to the goal I set for myself I did not do as well as I wanted. My goal for this tournament was to make the finals and hopefully win the singles. In terms of ranking points I really needed to get into the finals, and in terms of confidence and goals I wanted to be in the finals. Although I am happy I made the semi finals, I am more disappointed with my play today. The last week and a half of tournaments I have really been working on focusing and winning no matter what. This week and last week I was finally able to find that thing inside myself that makes an athlete give EVERYTHING and just WIN. Last week in the finals of doubles I found it, and I was very proud of that. If I hadn't we would have lost. I also did it last week in my quarter finals singles. This week I was focusing very well, and I was really proud of that.
But today, I hit too many mistakes. I felt like I was trying too much, trying too hard, wanting it too much. I could not get in "the zone" and my opponent was just more focused. I am more disappointed in my play then mad that I lost. I am frustrated that my opponent played horrible yesterday and very well today. I really felt like I was going to rock this tournament, and now I am out.
So, that is my emotional update. I have never made semi finals in singles in an international tournament. So last week and this weeks results are good, just not as good as I wanted. Hopefully, things will go up from here.
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| Today went pretty well. I finally got to see the draw and I am officially in it and seeded correctly! That makes me very happy. I even got a chance to hit today with the Mexican team since I ran into them in the lobby. Tonight we are even going out to dinner at the famous Brazilian Steak Houses with a bunch of other players. Tomorrow the tournament starts and I should have two singles matches. I really want to do well, but I know I also can't look too far ahead in the draw. I need to take one match at a time.
Our tournament hotel is very far from the venue and that may be a problem. Some players have already switched hotels and I am strongly considering it. It's nice to stay just in one hotel room the whole stay, but this one is expensive and it would be really nice to be able to walk to the gym from my hotel. Unfortunately if I switch hotels I will not have internet anymore, which will limit my updates.
It's funny, last night I dreamt of washing machines. That's sad isn't it. But when you have a bag full of stinky clothes you needed washed, and nowhere to do it.... I think tomorrow might be a day for shopping, haha.
So, wish me good luck. There are a lot of people who worked hard to get me into this draw, and I would really love to do well for them, and for me of course!
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| BRAZIL INTERNATIONAL
Today I leave for Brazil. I can't describe how crazy the last few days have been. Basically, Brazil said they did not receive my entry for the tournament and refused to put me in the draw, while USA Badminton swears they entered me. I have had amazing support over the weekend and I believe the people working for me have done everything they could. I am crossing my fingers that when I arrive in Brazil I will be picked up and taken to the hotel, as well as entered in the draw.
Naturally to make things even crazier I missed my connection in Miami because our flight was two hours delayed going there. This meant I had to cancel my hotel in Houston, and stay in Miami instead. American Airlines promised us free accommodations and food vouchers in Miami, but of course when we got there none of it turned out to be true. The continued to tell us we could get our luggage downstairs for the night, again, turned out to be untrue.
I got to a hotel finally and I believe I got the second the last available room they had for the night. Otherwise it would have been back to the airport for me.
Today things have been looking up quite a bit, so I believe it's good karma coming back to me from all of the bad karma over the last few days. I bored my plane to Brazil in less than an hour and have no idea if I will be picked up, or in the tournament. But I am praying. If there is internet there I will update results once I start playing on Thursday or Friday. Wish me luck, this time I feel like I have more to prove.
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| PUERTO RICO INTERNATIONAL 2007
Today Lauren and I had the women's doubles final. We played Val and Jie Meng from Peru. We were the second ranked team, but went in ready to win. We took the first game with a little bit of struggle. Then in the second game we lost control of our playing style and lost the game. The third game was all theirs. They were leading 16-10 and we pretty much did not know what to do. So at 17-13 I said to Lauren, "no more talking, now we just have to do it."
Luckily everything feel into place and we both got on the same train. We some how took the game and won 21-18 in the third. I honestly don't know quite how we did it, but I am very happy that we did. I think if we had played better and more consistently we could have won in two. But since they out played us we were very lucky to be able to come back and take the match. This is Lauren and my second international win, and we're both very proud! 
Pictures to come soon. | | |
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