For Pit Seng Low the next week could go a long way towards deciding his future.
Seng, from Hurstville, will represent Australia at the World Mixed Team Championships, the Total BWF Sudirman Cup, on the Gold Coast.
The world’s best players will take part, with Seng competing at senior level in a teams championship for the first time.
The 22-year-old has momentum behind him after winning the gold medal at the Oceania Badminton Championships in New Caledonia in February and is keen to build on that success.
A return to the Gold Coast for the 2018 Commonwealth Games is on the horizon. He missed out on last year’s Rio Olympics but has his sights set on the 2020 and 2024 games. And this next week could be an important part in proving he has what it takes.
“The next Olympics I think I’d be at my peak. So if I could go to Tokyo Olympics it would be a really good opportunity,” he said.
“I think [the Sudirman Cup will] be a whole other level. Just world class. I’ve played internationally but to play against the top people from their countries will be a really good experience.
“It’s all based on performance. Badminton Australia picks the team on how well we perform at international tournaments. This is an important step towards that, if I can show I can compete at that level.”
Seng has twice represented Australia at world junior level. He will be part of the 14-person Australia team, seven men and seven women, and will play the men’s singles event.
His victory at the Oceania championships has given him confidence to keep chasing his goals.
“That’s easily my biggest achievement so far,” he said.
“It was kind of surprising to be honest because when I looked at the competition and there were all those strong players, all the teammates that I’ve played against.
“It’s weird because I played against some people I'd never played before and they beat my teammates. I was really nervous coming in to play these guys who’ve beaten my teammates who know my game so well. Then you play these guys and beat them. I didn’t expect it.”
Seng juggles his six-day-a-week training and playing schedule with his studies, completing a sports science degree at the University of Sydney.
Australia will play in division two of the Sudirman Cup. They have been drawn against the USA, Austria and heavyweights Singapore in their pool.