Cyrildene’s Eileen Howson (70) is a badminton star
Badminton ace shines at 70-years-old with no end in sight on ambitions of further success.
At 70 years old, Eileen Howson of Cyrildene has raised her star as high as it’s ever been if her current form in the sport of badminton is anything to go by.
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Fresh from participating at the 25th World Chinese Badminton Championships in China from October 28 to 30, where she won silver in the singles division of the 70+ age category, Howson has done anything but take her foot off the accelerator.
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She’s continued this spell of success by raking in four gold medals in her maiden appearance as part of the Southern Gauteng (Southerns) team at the 2018 Diamond Eagles Championships held from November 5 to 9 in Port Elizabeth.
This included the ladies doubles, mixed doubles, as well as the Team of the Tournament Award.
Her exploits in the ‘windy city’ further saw Howson being named the tournament’s Sportswoman of the Year for 2018.
Her path to success in the sport is underlined by an unwavering passion for life and all that it has to offer.
A passionate sportswoman, Howson has indulged in various sporting activities for over five decades.
“I’ve been very active all my life. I’ve always gone to the gym and did race walking as well as running,” said Howson.
“Dancing is also a huge passion of my life, and I suppose everything put together has helped me to be where I am today.”
Howson credits her husband, himself an avid badminton player, for helping her realise her love for the sport.
“My husband was a badminton player and I would tag along to see him play. One day I decided that I could actually do this and that’s when I started playing.
“I wasn’t the best of players then,” Howson admitted.
“But as time went on, I thought I’m fitter than most ladies and that’s where I progressed, leading me to where I am today.”
Badminton, officially known as the world’s racquet sport, requires quick reflexes and agility as the shuttle (the object that is hit back and forth between players) can travel at excessively high speeds.
The sport has recently been announced as an Olympic sport and will make its maiden introduction at the 2020 Games. Howson said this is a hugely deserving, although long overdue development for the sport.
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