University City’s Hansen Finishes Unbeaten

Before the season began, some members of the University City badminton team went to Coach Josie Scanlon and told her about a student she should see play.

“The kids told me there was a tall kid who plays badminton really well,” Scanlon said.

After senior Chris Hansen, a foreign exchange student from Roenne, Denmark, won his first three matches against top players from Crawford, Hoover and La Jolla, Scanlon said she knew he would remain undefeated.

Hansen did just that, concluding the season with a 33-0 singles record Thursday when he defeated Somsack Monsavath of San Diego, 15-0, 15-5, in the boys’ singles finals of the San Diego Section individual badminton championships at Serra High School.

Hansen then collected a second title with doubles partner Eric Lee, defeating Danh Truong and Truc Dang of Crawford, 5-3, 15-7.

“This is twice as great,” Hansen said, “Yesterday (Wednesday), we came from behind and won, and we did it again. We both were a bit nervous.”

In Denmark, badminton is the second most popular sport behind soccer. Hansen, 17, began the sport when he was just 8. He had to adjust to a lower level of play here, because U.S. high school players usually don’t learn the game until they reach the ninth grade.

“At the high school level, we play the basic skills,” Scanlon said. “Chris came in at a level way beyond. He’s an excellent player. He had to gear down his play in practice.”

After losing in the girls’ singles final the past two years, senior Nhu Truong of Serra not only won that title but mixed doubles as well. She defeated Sombath Vilitchai of San Diego, 11-8, 0-3, 11-4, in singles and teamed with Matt Lenzkes to beat Hoover’s Linh Truong and Danny Huynh, 15-12, 15-10, repeating the mixed doubles championship she had won her sophomore year.