Ygor Coelho Relishes Return to All England
As a player growing up in Brazil, away from the badminton heartlands, Ygor Coelho had a particular fondness for the YONEX All England. Fed on a diet of YouTube videos of Peter Gade and Taufik Hidayat at the All…
· DEV SUKUMAR
As a player growing up in Brazil, away from the badminton heartlands, Ygor Coelho had a particular fondness for the YONEX All England. Fed on a diet of YouTube videos of Peter Gade and Taufik Hidayat at the All England, Coelho now has a broad grin as he contemplates the magnitude of his journey to the world’s oldest tournament.
Coelho runs his gaze across the empty stands on the eve of the 111th edition of the All England. He knows that this year, with the COVID-19 safety protocols in place, there won’t be any spectators during the event. Still, for him, the event will remain iconic.
“It’s quite special,” Coelho says, his eyes lighting up. “This is the oldest tournament and it’s about history. It means a lot to me. I cannot compare it to any other tournament, but it’s almost like the World Championships, because everyone is at 100 per cent and that’s what makes it special. People give a lot for this tournament. To be here, we need to be in the top 32 in the world, and not so many Pan Am players have that chance and the level to be here. If I’m here means that it’s very prestigious.