25 Sep 2013 at 20:41 | Published by: Hans | Views: 10457 | News search

Evelyn Haberl playing in Bad Münder  (Photo by Hans Bergström 2013)

Interview with Evelyn Haberl (EH), Austria and MGC Herzogenburg

This interview was done the 25th of September 2013. Interviewer is Hans Bergström (HB).

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

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

EH: Thank you! This was my first experience of knockout in an international Championship. When I participated in the Junior European Championships in 1994 and 1995 there was no knockout. I did however had the experience from the Austrian Championships.

HB: So, can you tell our readers who is Evelyn Haberl?

EH: I am 33 years old and have played minigolf for 21 years. I am a mother of a 10-year-old son, and he has played minigolf tournaments for 4 years already. We live in Herzogsburg in the lower Austria region and in my profession I am self-employed in the area of labels and textile printing.

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?

EH: I was not thinking and analyzing so much this final day. I just focused to give my best the full day.

HB: On your way to the final you started by meeting the stroke play winner and reigning World Champions in match play Bianca Zodrow. What were your thoughts and game plan before this game?

EH: It's easier to go as supposedly inferior players in such a match. I did not have a plan, however, but I realized pretty quickly in the round that I could keep up.

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

EH: It was a very exciting game because I felt that our playing strength lay not so far apart. Although it was already after 11 lanes (9 eternit and the two first on 2 Felt) a 4:1 advantage for me. But then I lost the next 2 lanes and it was again scarce. Finally, I managed to win the match with an ace on lane 18.

HB: Earlier in the competition you and Austrian girls was for a long time battling for the team gold with Germany but in the end just managed to take the silver medal. What were the general feelings in the team after that result?

EH: In any case, I must say that we have not lost gold but won silver. I was sometimes very nervous in the team event and I'm very glad for the results. We for sure did all that could be expected of us I think.

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

EH: The organization was great, everything around it was perfect, just the best!

HB: For the international minigolf community you were not very well known before Bad Münder. Now you are a star, how does this change feels for you, and do you notice any difference in how people address you?

EH: I do not feel like a “star” and I must say that I am not. Of course people have congratulated me on Facebook or at tournaments, but otherwise nothing else has changed.

HB: Have your gold medal been noticed back home in Austria?

EH: Yes, there were some radio interviews and newspaper reports.

HB: What happens next for you in Minigolf?

EH: Next, I play with my club "MGC ASKÖ Herzogenburg" in the Austrian Landesliga.

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

EH: If I can qualify for the Austrian team - then yes!

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

EH: Thank you, and I want to wish all players Good luck back!

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