O atleta Thomas Moretti, da Fonte, foi tema de uma matéria no site do Mundial de Badminton Júnior, disputado na Malásia. Segue abaixo a notícia em inglês. Na pa´gina do torneio há também fotos dele: http://www.wjc09.com/newspage.php?news=69     
THE BRAZILIANS ARE COMING – IN BADMINTON

It is still a long, long way to go for football crazy Brazil to have player capable of holding his own world when it comes to badminton.
But with a badminton population that is growing at a fast pace, it is only a matter of time before Brazil turn their footballing skills on the field to that on a badminton court.
And do not be surprised that the sport which is currently dominated by Asian and European powerhouses may one day see the Brazilians making the world stage.
Celso Wolf, from the Brazilian Badminton Federation, who is in Alor Star, Malaysia for the on-going Yonex-Sunrise BWF World Junior Badminton Championships with Brazil s lone representative Thomas Moretti Garbonggi, said: "Brazil may be known for its football but badminton is a fast growing sport in the country. We have 13 provinces and each province is actively involved in the sport."
"There are hundreds of clubs and we have nothing less than 15,000 badminton players in Brazil. They have not established themselves yet in international tournaments all over the world but you will hear of them soon if things fall into pieces," said Wolf.
"Thomas is our big hope. He is the first junior to have come out of Brazil to play in world tournament and has created badminton history. And he is here as the Pan-American champion."
And the 18-year-old Thomas took a giant step towards his dreams of playing in either the 2012 Olympics in London or the 2016 Olympics which will be held in Rio de Janeiro when he beat Eddie Hung of Australia 21-19, 21-17 in a first round match in the boys singles which lasted 27 minutes.
"This is my first taste of a highly competitive world tournament. I am thrilled that I won my first match and I hope it won t be last either.
"I will give my best and take one match at a time. There are no personal targets here but I hope not to disappoint the badminton players and fans back home," said Thomas, who hopes to get a place in a University in Sao Paolo at the end of the year to do economics.
Thomas, however, admitted that he still has a long way to go before realizing his badminton dream.
"I want to make a name for myself in badminton. That is my top priority," he said.

FEBASP

parceiros