BADMINTON: FROM European quarter-finals to World Championship disappointment, 2017 has had its fair share of ups and downs for Coventry badminton ace Fontaine Chapman.
But, now well on the road to recovery from the knee injury that has plagued her in recent months, Chapman insists the only way is up as she targets more success on the court.
The 27-year-old, England’s No.1 women’s singles player, reached the last eight of April’s European Championships in Denmark, falling agonisingly short of a bronze medal.
But after an early exit from August’s World Championships in Glasgow, Chapman is confident she’s getting back to her best in time for the latter stages of the season.
“The World Championships were quite difficult for me,” said Chapman.
“I’ve been struggling with a knee injury so to go to Glasgow not in the form that I would have liked was frustrating but I believe that I had done enough training for me to compete.
“But it just wasn’t quite there and that is just down to not having enough training under my belt.
“Coming out of that, I’ve been resting my knee and having lots of physio on it, and it’s feeling a lot better.
“I’m feeling ready to get back into competing soon, I just need to get those fitness levels back up and I’ll be good to go.
“The Europeans in April were tough because it was such a shame that I missed out on getting a major medal.
“When you’re three or four points away from getting into the semi-finals and guaranteeing a medal is tough to take, but its also motivation because it shows that what I am doing is right and I’ve moving in the right direction.”
The Coventry ace marked the start of Autumn by throwing her support behind Badminton England’s The Racket Pack – a new primary age initiative to deliver fun and skill-based sessions to ensure a positive first experience of the sport.
Next up for Chapman is the small matter of her wedding, but she will soon be back on court in time for the French and Bitburger Opens later this month.
Badminton players, historically, don’t hit their peak until their early 30s, and with time on her side, Chapman is optimistic medals will soon be headed her way.
She said: “If I can just sort out my body and physically get into the shape I need to be in to continually win matches and get through rounds, then it makes it a lot easier.
“It makes me feel a lot more confident that it is doable to not only win international tournaments but to get medals at those major championships.”
