SHUTTLECOCK

Dimitris Katakalaios, Greek National coach | 1650 total views since Mar 29, 04|

An Interview of the Greek National Coach of the Men’s Shuttlecock Team Mr. Dimitris Katakalaios, published in the newspaper “Fighting News” (Machitika Nea), in the February 2004 issue, given to the journalist Matina Tsamoutalidi.

Rep.: Good morning Mr Katakalaios. Before we start our discussion, I would like to thank you beforehand for your time.

Coach: Good morning.

Rep.: As we all know, you are the Coach of the National Shuttlecock Men’s Team, therefore I would like you to tell us something about this new sport.

Coach: For the past two years, here in Greece, great efforts have been done so that this new sport spreads and becomes known to the people and to the Athletic Officials. I, personally, have been acquit anted with this sport since 1998 and I been dealing with this despite the astonishment of the people for the sport. In Europe, the sport has become known the last decade while in Asia it has been around for about 25-30 years.

Rep.: What exactly do you mean by “astonishment of the people”?

Coach: Most wonder “how” by kicking an object with feathers can be considered as a sport or as a way of exercise and amusement. As you know, here in Greece everything new is look upon suspiciously. The only way to gain an idea of the sport is by personal experience. On hand experience or one might say on foot experience with the particular sport may give the feeling of what this sport can offer. Similarly, in a boxing match, the spectator cannot realize the pain the player goes through accepting a powerful punch.

Rep.: So, shuttlecock is used for training. What does this sport offer? What will one gain by playing shuttlecock?

Coach: Apart from the obvious gains every sport gives, as the well-being, a good body shape and muscle development, the Chinese featherball football increases, by far the athlete’s reflexives, balance, flexibility, concentration. as well as it mainly promotes the spirit of team play. The surprising thing in it is that it exercises through recreation and relaxation.

Rep.: What makes this sport so special?

Coach: The recreation. The entire family can play as a team and each member separately can have equal fun. Most important of course is that because it does not require great effort, it retains the people in playing the game by keeping them away from the unhealthy “clubbing”.

Rep.: Explain us a few things about the game?

Coach: The shuttlecock game has two categories, the artistic and the team play. In the artistic category, the participants may be from two to a group of people, making various figures with the featherball, it seems as a chorographic play. In the team play category, there are two teams on each side of a net, which try to score, it resembles a lot with volleyball with the difference that instead of hands we use feet and legs.

Rep.: What are the experiences you gained as coach from the championships that you participated?

Coach: I want to believe that my experiences are more positive than negative. The love of the people for this sport was really sensational. The greatest impression is the confrontation of athletic institutions and official of the other countries. We have participated in two organizations, although the circumstances of such events were completely unknown to us, the athletes adapted very fast, lacking the particular preparation, once we did not have enough time for this. Remarkable was the climate that prevailed from the people that came to watch the game, people which give the great significance of the word "supporter" and "fan".

Rep.: What do you mean?

Coach: The people that can to watch the game, were the ones that loved the sport, the ones that came to support their and the other teams, harsh words and negative feelings where totally absent. They applauded and cheered for both teams, the one the supported and the opponent. These people came for the game, without carrying who would win or who would lose. In the end, all were winners.

Rep.: What about the climate among the teams and the athletes? Can you say the same thing for them too?

Coach: Between the teams and the athletes the climate was even better. A relationship of reciprocal agreement, comprehension and love. Here is a small instance but of great significance, during a time out, the opponent team was helping out, assisting, and advising the other team on how they could improve their techniques, without taking into account the final outcome of the game. Characteristic is also the answer of athletes to the question "did you win or lost", that are simply replied "We had a very good time, and the game was good".

This is something I hope we learn as Greek warm-blooded athletes and fans.

Rep.: What about the future of sport in Greece and world?

Coach: Already Shuttlecock is considered as an official sport, that’s the reason this sport was included in the Pan-Asiatic Olympic Games. In Greece, all the member of the G.S.F. (Greek Shuttlecock Federation) with Mr. Jordan Stavridis at the leading position, as the President of the Greek Federation, are making each possible effort in order the sport of shuttlecock becomes widely accepted and known.

Rep.: The information you gave us about the shuttlecock sport was quite helpful. Thank you for your time and I wish you the best.

Coach: I have to thank you for the opportunity you gave me, for the projection of this new sport in Greece.