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Penty looking to get back to top form ahead of World Championships (Photo: Badminton Photo)
Toby Penty: -better understanding of my game style
Date: 7/9/2018 6:30 PM
Published by : Alan Raftery
Toby Penty is an English shuttler with a bright future. The 25-year-old has already shown his talent on the biggest stages. Perhaps underlined after his BWF Grand Prix win in Scotland last year. Here we get to know Penty a little more.

As many of the Badminton world knows, after the end of the main Olympic funding for the UK at the start of 2017, things were looking quite bleak in terms of training set-ups and opportunities. But Penty was not put off by this hurdle, and with the help of his coach Stuart Wardell, they started a new training setup at Wimbledon Racquets & Fitness club with a few younger players who are just coming into senior play and making the transition from juniors. As Toby explains

-We put it under the Name 'CWC' (Creating World Class) in a goal to get to the top level ourselves or help younger players down the line in the area get to that level. Alongside that, I still train in Milton Keynes at the National Badminton Centre with the players there and mostly with fellow singles player and close friend Rajiv Ouseph.

This shows the positivity of Penty, and a sign of how great players are made. So far has in 2018 there have been further frustrations with injuries. Penty describes his feelings during this time.

-With being injured with my hamstring and then twisting my ankle, it is frustrating, but sometimes these things I guess are just meant to be and the time-out made me think about where I needed and could continue to improve my game. 

Tight losses against good players
Following this time-out, Penty managed a Dutch International semi-final, just losing out to Dziolko of Poland, 24-22 in the third game. Penty then went into the this year’s European Championships and comments on his results (Round 2 loss vs Antonsen, 12-21, 21-15, 20-22). 

-I felt the European championships even though I only played 2 matches it gave me good confidence as I hadn't been training for a long time before it and felt like there were still some clear improvements in my game. 

The following tournament was a great success, as Penty was victorious in gaining the title for the Slovenia International, without dropping a single game. Beating Spain’s Pablo Abian 21-18, 21-18 in the final, a player whom he hadn’t beaten before.

The latest two tournaments in the US and Canada also brought about great positives, as Penty states

-The way I've been playing and that I've only suffered tight losses against good players means I have confidence I'm on the right path and even though it’s taken a long time since starting on the circuit, I now have a much better understanding of my game style.

I will keep which ones to myself
Toby Penty’s fulfilling of his potential truly is an exciting prospect, and one player to follow closely for the rest of the season with interest. Starting with the step up in tournament level for the Thailand Open starting tomorrow. Click the above link for the preview.

Discussing future goals, Penty answers

-For the rest of the year I am concentrating on getting experience playing higher level tournaments on a consistent basis whilst at the same time aiming at a few tournaments in which I would like to try and win. Although I will keep which ones to myself!

Lastly, we all know that for many great talents in sport, to reach the top level, perhaps the most important aspect of their game to work on is the psychological one. How do top players keep focused before matches? Penty responds

-When it comes to keeping focused before a match I just like to have a similar daily routine every time I play. I also really don't like not having something to do or even standing still for too long. I hate it. So, I constantly have to be moving or keeping my mind focused on only one or two things.


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