25 Jun 2011 at 10:29 | Published by: Svehlis | Views: 12543 | News search

Simona Handlová  (Photo by minigolfnews.cz 2011)

Simona Handlová (MGC ‘90 BRNO)
Born: 1.3.1990 in Brno
Club: Nifo
Playing since: 2002
Achievements:
1st place in teams EC 2010 Wien
1st place in teams YEC 2007 Södertälje and YWC 2008 Budapest
2nd place in teams YWC 2006 Odense
3rd place in teams YEC 2005 Pombal
3rd place individuals YEC 2007 Södertälje
3rd place individuals YWC 2008 Budapest

What are your greatest achievements?

My greatest achievements includes two victories at international junior championships played in 2007 (Sweden) and 2008 (Hungary) and gold medal from the European Cup in Vienna in 2010. At our home ground I most appreciate victory with MGC ’90 Brno women's team in the 2010 season.

Which one was the most emotional for you? Which one did you most enjoy?

This is a very difficult question because each victory, especially in the international championship is unique, unforgettable and special experience. But If I still have to choose, than for juniors it was the shootout victory with the Swedish girls in 2007. And at club level there is a clear winner EC Vienna 2010, where we caught up the leading Austrians in the last round with our excellent performance.

Who else did you play with in the team back there?

In Sweden, we formed a chamber trio Me, Janca Nakládalová and Sisi Švehlíková. In Vienna, Katka Tietzová, Janca Nakládalová and Raduš Žaloudková. Raduš didn’t play in Vienna (she was pregnant), but she contributed to this great success in the national championship, where she was the real tab on the scales (she relieved Simona after some problems on the net and performed really smooth).

What is your opinion on the finals form in the Czech Championship and international tournaments?

There are pros and cons to both forms. KO form is more interesting, attractive and tight. I like that no one cannot be sure and every strike on the hole counts. The second option is fairer and shows more of the total during of the tournament. Winner really was the best player, who has worked on his good results for several rounds. However, I still prefer the KO option, which I enjoy even more.

What I dislike on the current form in our national championship is duplication of winners in each category. Then we have two male and female champions, which I think is odd. Winner of the category should be only the one who wins in KO, or KO slightly loses its meaning.

What was the best model of czech extraleague according to you? One day, one league round (present model). Two days and two league rounds. Or two days and one league round.

I prefer the current model and not only because of time savings. I think, that four rounds are enough to show the winner and also the tournament is not so tideous. During only four rounds, it’s even harder to fix bad rounds and so there is no mistake, which will disappear. For me, this adds an atractivity for every single league round.

What do you think is necessary for success on the international scene?

Good coaching team is the foundation, then a good team (strong players) and good team spirit. Furthermore of course, responsible training on the course. And at last but not least, it’s really important in three days of tournament to stay positive and avoid defeated look after making a bad number. There is nothing worse for teammates than watch someone walk soullessly with his shoulders down after he made a five on big castle (lane 4 on concrete course). You never know when your oponnent will go and make the same mistake. Unfortunately, this is easy to talk about it, but it is much harder to fulfill it.

What bothers you at our tournaments and what do you like about them?

As I said before, I dislike duplicity of titles at national championship, then sometimes not entirely precise organizers, but it’s just a small thing. What bothers me in general is a bad financial situation in minigolf, which prevents to send out the best possible team to international championships. Nowadays I actually enjoy the tough fights in Extra league, because it’s boring if someone wins with 50 strokes ahead. I also like the atmosphere in extra league tournaments, which is again determined by equality of leading teams in mixed league.

Who do you guess to gain championship titles for 2011 in our Extra League?

In mixed teams (in extra league, there are no strictly male teams), there will be definitely fight until the last round between teams from Olomouc and Prague. I think it is 50 to 50, but for this year I guess that the MGC Olomouc will take a peek to Vergiate. In the female competition it will be similar between us (MGC ’90 Brno) and team from Bystrice pod Hostýnem. There I modestly bet on us :-).

Thank you for this interview and good luck to the remaining season.

» original version of the interview (in Czech language)

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