15 July 2008

Victoria University student Tania Luiz is bound for Beijing as part of Australia's women's badminton team.

Tania, 24 is studying a double Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Psychology at Footscray Park Campus, and will make her first Olympic appearance in China, a country considered the major powerhouse of badminton.

She said: "With badminton being an amateur sport in Australia, we travel to Europe and Asia many times a year to compete among the world's best."

Tania will compete with doubles' partner Eugenia Tanaka in the women's double event at the 2008 Olympics. When they qualified, the two were the highest ranked women's doubles pair in Australia and 49th in the world. But the Dingley resident is confident about improving - using the same tough determination she has shown from a young age.

Tania earned a black belt in karate at age nine, but switched to badminton at 12 after breaking her brother's fingers. Only four years later, she secured a place on the Australian senior badminton team.

She said: "I have always loved playing all kinds of sports, including netball, hockey and softball. Badminton was slightly less violent than karate, but just as dynamic, skilful and tactical."

Since moving to Australia with her family from Oman in 1992, Tania has earned seven national titles across junior and senior levels in singles and doubles' events. She has been coaching badminton for the national talent identification squad since last year.

Although she suffered a serious knee injury in September 2007, Tania fought back and recovered quickly. Following a ligament reconstruction, Tania began an intense accelerated rehabilitation program. She returned to full training in January 2008, before being selected for Australia's five-person Olympic badminton team.

She said: "Beijing will be tough, not only because of the calibre of their players, but also because of the hot and humid physical environment. The badminton venue - the Beijing University of Technology gymnasium - is likely to have strong air-conditioning, which adds a whole different dynamic to the flight of the shuttle."

Being a full-time university student and training six days a week has been a challenge, Tania admits, saying: "I'm fortunate VU is exceptionally good at supporting its athletes and allowing flexibility so I am able to perform at my peak in Beijing."

Tania plans to complete her degree next year at VU, and then enrol for some post-graduate studies.

She said: "I love the thought of getting into sports psychology and establishing my own business one day."

A jpeg photograph of Tania Luiz in competition is available.

Media Contact: Ann Marie Angebrandt, Media Officer
Marketing and Communications Department, Victoria University
Ph: (03) 9919 5487