By Any Name, Chansawangpuvana Is the Best : Girls’ badminton: Rigorous training is key to success for Katella star, who was 61-0 this season.

In badminton circles she is known as just “Ying.” Probably because nobody can pronounce her last name, including Dave Green, her coach at Katella. But by any name, Ying Chansawangpuvana is without a doubt the best high school female badminton player in the county.

“I don’t even try to say her last name,” Green said. “But she is the best athlete I have ever seen. I have coached football for over 20 years and had a CIF wrestler and I still say she is the best athlete. She is more dedicated and works harder than anyone I’ve ever coached.”

Chansawangpuvana’s quick rise to badminton fame came from her hard work over the summer and from a family that lives for the game.

Her uncle, Don Chew, recently won the men’s national senior title and is so involved with badminton he has a personal court in his office at his printing shop. That court is where Chansawangpuvana spent three to four days a week during the summer training with Chew, his son, Gus, and Solomon Jonathon, all avid badminton players. During the season, she spent at least three hours a day, five days a week practicing.

Her hard work paid off, as Chansawangpuvana won the section individual title with an 11-3, 12-9 victory over Judy Pak, last year’s player of the year. On her way to the title, Chansawangpuvana did not lose a game, posting an unbelievable 61-0 record.

“I had more confidence this year because of all the training I did,” Chansawangpuvana said. “I hurt my wrist before the season, so I didn’t know how I would do.”

Seven years ago Chansawangpuvana, 19, moved to the Southern California from Thailand.

“It’s a lot different here,” she said. “School is tough in Thailand. Here it’s pretty easy. There is never homework. It’s kickback, so I have a lot of free time.”

All that free time she spends playing badminton.

She began playing badminton in the seventh grade and says she didn’t get serious about it until the end of her sophomore year. As a junior, she reached the quarterfinals, posting a 40-7 record.

During her senior year, Chansawangpuvana’s matches weren’t even close. She easily swept through her opponents, giving up only one or two points.

In fact, the only opponent Chansawangpuvana can’t seem to beat is her teammate Ed Soetanto, but that might not be far away.

“He’s too good,” Chansawangpuvana said. “But I’ve come close.”

Soetanto and Chansawangpuvana led Katella to the Division II finals, where they were defeated by Lakewood, 11-8.

With her high school career coming to a close, Chansawangpuvana plans to attend Cypress College, with hopes of transferring to UC Irvine, where she wants to major in art. But she also has her sights on the Olympics.

“My uncle says I have a good chance of making the team,” Chansawangpuvana said. “But I don’t know, I’m new at this. I know I’m going to have to train a lot harder.”

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All-County Badminton Team

FIRST TEAM

Boys’ singles Name: Jerome Poyyak School: Corona del Mar Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Won individual title, reached mixed semifinals

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Boys’ doubles Name: David Nguyen School: Garden Grove Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Reached finals in boys’ and mixed doubles Name: Dung Cu School: Garden Grove Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Partnered with Nguyen, led team to Division I title

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Girls’ singles Name: Ying Chansawangpuvana School: Katella Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Won individual title, 61-0 on season

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Girls’ doubles Name: Kameron Shambeck School: La Habra Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Runner-up in Section finals Name: Deidre Vivanco School: La Habra Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Partnered with Shambeck in finals, lost, 18-17, 15-11

SECOND TEAM

Boys’ singles Name: Ed Soetanto School: Katella Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Reached individual finals, led team to Div. II finals

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Boys’ doubles Name: Patrick Lam School: La Quinta Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Reached semifinals, before losing to eventual champs Name: Dat Nguyen School: La Quinta Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Teamed with Lam, led team to Division I quarterfinals

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Girls’ singles Name: Judy Pak School: Garden Grove Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Reached individual finals and mixed doubles finals

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Girls’ doubles Name: Lien Ly School: Garden Grove Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Won both matches in finals, leading Argonauts to title Name: Huong Nguyen School: Garden Grove Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Partnered with Ly, swept Keppel for Division I team title