21 Sep 2013 at 18:00 | Published by: Hans | Views: 15219 | News search

Sandra Bengtson tasting her silver medal in Match Play in Bad Münder  (Photo by )

This is the first interview in a series of interview with the theme back from Bad Münder.

Interview with Sandra Bengtson (SB), Sweden and Uppsala

This interview was done the 21st of September 2013. Interviewer is Hans Bergström (HB).

HB: First of all congratulations to the silver medal in the match play at the World Championship in Bad Münder.

Maybe you can start to tell us about your experience from the match play Saturday?

SB: Thanks. I wasn’t having any expectations when i started the match play. The reason was that in the past I have only won the first match and then lost in the second match, so I couldn’t have expectations about how it would go. I could only go out there and play my best and see how it goes. And then I won against Karin Heschl and that was a great feeling, she is a good player so I knew it would be a hard match wining. After that I just kept going.

HB: So, can you tell our readers who is Sandra Bengtson?

SB: Of course, I am 33 years old and I have been playing since 1993, so this year I celebrate 20 years as a player. I live with my boyfriend Fredrik in Uppsala. I work at the Stockhom Arlanda Airport as a security guard with Securitas. In my spare time in autumn/winter I also play floor ball with my team Loke BK as a goalie.

HB: What were your feelings when you reached the final and knew you had a medal secured. Was there hunger for the gold or satisfaction with securing a medal?

SB: When I won the sudden death in the semifinal I was really happy!! I knew that I had a medal secured, but I of course wanted also to win the final. If you are in the final you want to win. So I gave it my all, but I lost. But I wasn’t sad about it. I played the best I could and it wasn’t enough and I just got my first individual international medal.

HB: On your way to the final you played some really though matches ending up in sudden death both in the quarter and semifinals. How could you keep your nerves cool in so many pressed moments?

SB: It was though matches, and I was really nervous. But last year I started to have a mental coach who helped me a lot! So a little bit it’s because of her. And my game on the eternit course helped a lot, I played really good on eternit and it helped my confidence. I knew that i wouldn’t lose that many lanes on it so I needed to keep my score down on felt and then I would have a chance.

HB: Felt is even though you are from Sweden not your favorite surface. Can you tell us about your feelings about felt?

SB: Felt, felt, felt. Yes that right it is not my favorite! I am a lot better on concrete and eternit. I wouldn’t say that I hate felt, but I dislike it. Hehe!

But this year I have practiced and competed the most I have ever done since I was a junior. So my confidence got better on felt this year.

I was unsure in the beginning of this year if I even would try to make it to Bad Münder, even after Swedish Championships I was unsure that I would like to play. But I thought about it, and then told Janne that I would like to play if he would decide to let me play.

HB: It was a high odds final between yourself (ranked 14 in the qualifications) and Evelyn Harberl (ranked 16 in the qualifications). Can you tell us about how it was like to play this final against Evelyn.

SB: I was more nervous when I played against Jana and Eva, but some nerves were there. I lost some lanes in the beginning of the felt lanes and was 3 behind, but in the end I took back some lanes and was really close to level the game on lane 17. But she aced the last lane and won. In match play its everybody’s game, everybody can win.

HB: Earlier in the competition you and the Swedish girls just missed out on the medals (one stroke from bronze and two from silver). Also the men lost the battle for gold against Germany. How were the feelings in the Swedish camp after the team play finals?

SB: It was not good!! No happy faces! In the bus home to our hotel it was soo quiet. But I am the ladies team captain so I told my ladies that we did all that we could do, and that I was proud of them. It was close and we gave the others a real fight!

HB: What is your opinion about the arrangements of the World Championships in Bad Münder?

SB: It was a good arrangement! I have nothing to complain about.

HB: Have your medal been noticed back home in Sweden?

SB: Yes! from my friends and family

HB: What happens next for you in Minigolf?

SB: I will play a lot of competitions and maybe play the series with Uppsala team 2. Then the Swedish Championship in Borås next year.

HB: Will we see you in the next years European Championship?

SB: I hope so. I will try! But it is Jannes decision as always.

HB: Thank you for taking this interview and good luck in the future!

SB: Thank you very much!

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