Soraya de Visch Eijbergen has just moved to Switzerland. The Dutch spoke about how she has settled there so far, and what she aims for in 2019.
In September last year, Soraya de Visch Eijbergen announced to not play for the Dutch national team anymore, as she would join the national selection of Switzerland.
For the 26-year-old, the step of moving to Bern and practising at the Thalmatt Sportcentre was due to private reasons.
- Since the beginning of the year, I have been training in Switzerland. I am now trying to find my rhythm there. So far, I am very happy. The players are nice, and the coaches are very positive, she said.
- I miss my home country a bit, but I do not go home that often at the moment, she added.
New home, new life, same sport
Last year, the Women’s Singles player participated in 17 tournaments across Europe and Asia, including a lot of travelling.
Now, in Switzerland, De Visch Eijbergen is 100 per cent focusing on her badminton career, as well as her new life, in another country.
- I play so many tournaments and I want to get a rhythm in training. But if I go back home every time, there will not be a structure, she said.
- My life in Switzerland is actually not that different from my life in the Netherlands before. I also travelled a lot back then.
European Games and Olympics
2019 has just begun, but Soraya de Visch Eijbergen has straight goals that she wants to achieve this year.
- I want to play at the European Games. My current ranking looks promising for qualifying for Minsk, I am quite safe. But I want to perform well at tournaments in the upcoming months, she said.
In May, the qualification period for the Olympic Games is also coming up.
- Of course, it is always in the back of your mind. But I think I have to focus more on my training now so that I can get better, De Visch Eijbergen said.
- If I am not developing more, I do not think it is realistic to participate in Olympic Games. So, I need to improve first, before I can think further and further.