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Laura Sarosi: I promised myself
Date: 6/29/2020 2:03 PM
Published by : BEC staff

Sarosi, Hungary’s number one women’s singles, has certainly ‘been there and done that’, but we delve deeper into what it is like to be a professional player. 


Sarosi has been at the elite level of badminton for almost a decade. When asked about the best part of it so far, she says. 


- Wow, that is a tough question. I would say meeting people, getting to know different cultures, gaining experience, being out of my comfort zone many times, and learning how to handle unexpected situations. 


These are all positive, character-building byproducts of being so dedicated to a sport. However, part and parcel of being an athlete is getting through the hard parts. Sarosi shares what the toughest bits for her have been. 


- Not getting what I wanted, processing the defeats, the mental part being away from family and friends and finishing university while travelling so much.


Read: Laura Sarosi: Been there done that


Travelling the world

Sarosi adds that in particular, not being there for the people she loves when they just need her, missing their birthdays or other occasions, are by far the most difficult parts. All of this is in exchange for successes in the sport and winning tournaments. Picking out the one tournament win that means the most to her, she states.

- Maybe last year when I won the Croatian future series because I had a bad injury just a few months before.

The Hungarian has travelled far and wide for titles. Sarosi has won tournaments in countries that are detours from the usual calendar for a European player, such as, Giraldilla, Botswana, Puerto Rico, and Chile. Explaining why she travels to these countries to play, Sarosi says. 

 
- Before Rio I didn’t have the level to qualify only from European tournaments and the players around me on the world ranking were also travelling to these tournaments, so I also kind of had to. But before the Tokyo qualification started I promised myself I will take only a few of these tournaments and stick to it.

Sarosi misses home when she is on her travels and would not change it for anything. However, Brazil, Mexico and Korea are beautiful places according to her and made a lasting impression. 


Read: Christo Popov: He was a very impressive, talented, and creative player


In front of the home crowd 


For the vast majority of badminton players, their dream is to win the Olympics or the World Championships. For many, it is not realistic. When asked what is that one tournament is that she would like to win before retirement, Sarosi answers.


- To win the Hungarian Challenge, because in the last few years Hungarian spectators were incredible when I was playing, so it would an amazing feeling for sure to win in front of a home crowd.

With all roads leading to Tokyo now, memories of Rio 2016 become quite vivid again. Sarosi had an incredibly tough group then, with the eventual silver medalist P.V. Sindhu of India and Canada’s Michelle Li. Commenting on this, the states


- Yes, I had maybe the most difficult draw even to win a match in the group. In the first match, I was extremely nervous and anxious against Sindhu. However, against Michelle I was playing a bit better and more relaxed. But I wish for a better draw for Tokyo! 


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