PARIS, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Johanita Scholtz, a 24-year-old South African badminton player, expressed her enthusiasm after competing in her first group match at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.
"I feel privileged to play against a top player in the world, and I was very excited to gain this experience," Scholtz remarked.
Africa's second-ranked player, Scholtz began her badminton journey at the age of four. She tried badminton when her parents played squash nearby. "I saw badminton and just tried it out, and I've been hooked ever since," she recalled. Her potential was soon recognized by a coach from Bloemfontein, South Africa, which led to more serious training.
In addition to her sporting endeavors, Scholtz is a professional fashion designer, specializing in wedding and prom dresses. She managed to balance her design work in mornings with rigorous badminton training sessions in afternoons.
Scholtz finds that her work in fashion provides a calming contrast to the intensity of badminton. "In badminton, you're tense and need to concentrate, but designing is like solving a puzzle, it helps me relax," explained the so-called 'slashie'.
Beyond her dual careers, Scholtz is actively involved in community work, designing apparel for a children's organization and raising funds for child development and education. She hopes her journey can inspire children from small towns and villages.
"I want to show them that coming from nothing and achieving something big is possible," she said.
Scholtz also dedicates time to coaching local children in badminton, believing that sports can positively impact their lives. She dreams of seeing popularity of badminton grow in South Africa, with aspirations for her country to one day host the Olympic Games.
"Watching the matches here, I hope one day our country can grow this sport to that level. For now, I'm happy that people back home can see us on television and realize what we can achieve," she concluded.
According to Scholtz, adjusting to the atmosphere and the crowd in the arena is a significant aspect of the Olympic experience. "Everything just comes at once. It's nice to hear this atmosphere. It really brings you up and actually makes you excited to play more," Scholtz said, looking forward to her next game on Monday. ■
