Badminton: Guatemalan Cordon's career decision proves a winner

Kevin Cordon, a 24-year-old Guatemalan named after former England captain Kevin Keegan, has justified the contrary streak which made him prefer shuttlecocks to footballs by becoming the world badminton championships' biggest surprise packet. Cordon, who caused an opening day sensation by beating Chen Long, the fifth-seeded Chinese player, capitalized enterprisingly by overcoming Henri Hurskainen of Sweden 21-19, 21-17 to reach the last 16. The world number 36 then created further surprise by saying that he had no idea why he had made that career choice, and was still trying to puzzle it out. Two things that he is certain of, though - that "it is the best decision of my life", and that his dad has forgiven him for forsaking his favourite sport. Indeed Cordon senior is amongst those arising at five in the morning in La Union, Zacapa, to hear of the latest exploits of the central American republic's most unlikely sports hero. They will probably have learned that even when Hurskainen came back with a frightening run, saving six successive game points from 13-20 down, Cordon halted the comeback with the most delicate of little net shots and then kept in control through most of the second game. "I was still feeling tired from my match (against Chen) on Monday," he admitted. "I just wanted to keep my focus and try to play my best again." Cordon mostly did that, and was particularly adept at making nimble kills at the net. When given a chance to finish the match off there were no further alarms and he took it at the first attempt. It was though quite a spectacular end. Hurskainen managed a behind-the-back block under the intensest of pressure, which kept the rally going several more hits. It was not till Cordon unleashed a fusillade of mid-court jabs that he created the opening for a triumphant final kill. But his family and girlfriend don't see much of him these days. To improve his game it has been necessary to forsake his home country for the last few months during which he has been based in Madrid. "There is better practice in Europe, and more tournaments each week, and it's easier to travel to them," he explained. "It's difficult to say how many people play badminton in Guatemala, but in Spain there are more and I get better sparring partners and good coaching." This week he is being coached by his compatriot Pedro Yang, the only Guatemalan badminton player to have qualified for the Olympics, who has remained based in Denmark after quitting the international tour. "In just a few weeks I have improved," Cordon said. "I have improved tactically and technically and I am more confident, because I am training with good players." He will next have to beat one of his regular sparring partners, Pablo Abian, who saved a match point to reach the third round of the world championships with a 21-17, 7-21, 24-22 win over Marc Zwiebler, the 14^th seeded German. Abian then ripped off his shirt before sprinting around the arena in celebration. Cordon intends to ensure that the Spaniard will have cause to leave it on next time.