Fascinated by this very spectacular racket sport, to the point of creating the Argeles club in 2009, Fayza Zioueche is enthusiastic: the president, a badminton player who is also an international judge, was selected for the Olympic Games and the Paralympics as a line judge. A responsibility that requires concentration and anticipation, because the small feather shuttlecock, when smashed, can reach… 400 km/h.
She had almost forgotten that in November 2022 she had filled out an application online to apply as a line judge for the Paris 2024 Olympics. An offer that remained unanswered. Until this email, a few weeks ago, which announced that her application had been accepted. “I didn’t believe it anymore, it’s a sensational surprise,” confides Fayza Zioueche, who, the very next day, requests leave with her employer from July 25 to August 3 and then from August 26 to September 3 for the Paralympics.
It must be said that the president of the Volant club des Albères (VDA) has badminton in her blood. 15 years ago, she created the second club in the department in Argelès (after Saint-Cyprien), and with her team, she will build a real badminton center. A pride loaded with humility for the 155 licensees, including 70 young performers in Occitanie and beyond, and the two veteran pillars of the club (Didier and Marcel), who raise the VDA to the national summit.
As in many sports, and even if it is essential, referees are rare. The president then decides to show the way. She follows training and finds herself on the list of international linesmen. With her skills, her qualities are honed and recognized to referee major world events: “It’s a privilege, a responsibility. The players have to have confidence, even though we don’t have any contact. The goal is to limit video checks. In fact, there are three scenarios, the steering wheel is in, out, or hidden in which case I put my hands in front of my eyes.”
Playing and judging, “allows progress”
For Fayza, a judge already experienced internationally, “Each badminton match requires 12 judges, 10 for the lines, one for the service, and a referee. Personally, I focus on the overall court, I am in my own bubble, concentrated and zen, anticipating the trajectory of the shuttlecock as much as possible. Decision-making must be clear and precise, without rushing, even if there are sometimes around thirty exchanges.”
While waiting to collect her Olympic outfit and the official instructions to go to Paris, to be precise to the Adidas Arena Porte de la Chapelle from July 25 to August 3, then from August 26 to September 3 for the Paralympics, the Catalan is taking the opportunity to send a message: “It’s a chance, I could never have imagined participating in this way, in the Olympic Games in France! I invite badminton players to take the path of technical official. Few young people are attracted to this role, yet playing and judging are absolutely compatible, and even allow you to progress. For me it will be a supreme responsibility at the Olympic Games, before, why not, participating in the badminton world championships scheduled for August 2025 in France.”
2024-07-26 13:42:00
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