- J
- J
I have a dream and this dream is the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Many of you have perhaps read or heard my story but I hope I can paint you a clearer picture. I am Kate Foo Kune, a professional Badminton player from Mauritius. Badminton has been my passion, dream, life and greatest ambition since I was a little girl. Now at 26 years old I am very honoured to have accomplished a lot. Winning the African Championships 4 times in a row since 2014, getting to the best 57 players in the World, being named Sportswoman of the Year in Mauritius and qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympics are amongst my biggest and proudest achievements.
The Olympic year is the toughest period. It takes the best out of you physically and mentally. It is also very financially demanding. A player needs to play over 25 tournaments around the world during this period to have a chance to qualify to the Olympics. It requires dedication, perseverance, hard work and a lot of discipline. I am ready and prepared for it. I did it before and I believe that I can do it again. Unfortunately, I had a bad start and I need to catch up, which will be of great costs. That is where I need your help because unfortunately here, my hard work is not enough.
Last June, I saw my entire career fall in front of my eyes. In the middle of Olympic qualification season, I started my battle against injustice. The nightmare started on that day but I did not give in and kept fighting. For the next 4 months I fought for my innocence, fought for the truth. I can honestly say that it was the hardest period of my life. I went from being a professional badminton player fighting to get to the Olympics to being provisionally banned from badminton and seeing all my dreams disappear in front of my eyes. I was on the border of depression and giving up, from one day to the next I lost my identity and felt completely lost in myself. I was extremely lucky to have people around me that truly supported me. Thanks to all of them I was able to overcome these difficult moments. Not only did I receive encouragement from amazing friends, family and fiancé but also from people I wasn't acquainted with that had heard my story. I received so many messages of encouragements and I am so grateful for each one them. People kept believing in me and kept sending me love. It gave me strength to go on.
All those who know me know my values. They know that I have always believed in hard work for a fair and clean sport. The fact is, I tested positive for doping on that day in June a couple of months ago. It was unconceivable for me to have received such news when I would never knowingly go near any forbidden sport enhancing substances. After months of fighting, the verdict finally came. Even though the tournament where I was tested positive was taken away from me, I was found to 'bear no fault or negligence' and thus no period of ineligibility was given to me. I could finally play again!!!! I felt like a huge rock dropped out of my shoulders, the tears of joy came pouring in and I could not stop myself from jumping up and down. We had fought a hard battle, the hardest battle in my life, and came out of it stronger.
Unfortunately, my case is now being put under the test as it was appealed against. Another hard period of my life is coming, but I want focus on the positive and look ahead. Keep strong. The Olympic qualification is still at play, but I have a lot to catch up on. It means going for tournaments and making results fast.
I am very grateful that I still have a chance to make it to the Olympics and my biggest wish now is to train hard and achieve my dream.
To do this, I need your help. Making it to the Olympics is costly, especially since I have to catch up on the others now that I can be back on the court. I am asking you to be part of my Olympic dreams and together, we can stay strong and do it. Every donation counts and I am counting on you.
For every contribution you will receive gifts from me as a thank you for your help:
- If you contribute up to 80€ (Rs 3,200): A personalised autographed badminton card with a sticker.
- If you contribute between 81€ to 150€ (Rs 3,240 to Rs 6000): A personalised autographed badminton card with a sticker and a badminton t-shirt.
- If you contribute between 151€ to 300€ (Rs 6050 to Rs 12,000): A personalised autographed badminton card with a sticker, a badminton t-shirt and a private badminton session with me.
- If you contribute more than 300€ (Rs 12,000): A personalised autographed badminton card with a sticker, a badminton t-shirt, a private badminton session with me and a racket.
Thank you in advance for your contribution and together, let us make this dream come true!
To be as transparent as possible, please note that my godfather (Denis Foo Kune) who lives in the US is the one taking care of withdrawing the funds for me. This is because gofundme is a US based website and does not function in Mauritius.
Many of you have perhaps read or heard my story but I hope I can paint you a clearer picture. I am Kate Foo Kune, a professional Badminton player from Mauritius. Badminton has been my passion, dream, life and greatest ambition since I was a little girl. Now at 26 years old I am very honoured to have accomplished a lot. Winning the African Championships 4 times in a row since 2014, getting to the best 57 players in the World, being named Sportswoman of the Year in Mauritius and qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympics are amongst my biggest and proudest achievements.
The Olympic year is the toughest period. It takes the best out of you physically and mentally. It is also very financially demanding. A player needs to play over 25 tournaments around the world during this period to have a chance to qualify to the Olympics. It requires dedication, perseverance, hard work and a lot of discipline. I am ready and prepared for it. I did it before and I believe that I can do it again. Unfortunately, I had a bad start and I need to catch up, which will be of great costs. That is where I need your help because unfortunately here, my hard work is not enough.
Last June, I saw my entire career fall in front of my eyes. In the middle of Olympic qualification season, I started my battle against injustice. The nightmare started on that day but I did not give in and kept fighting. For the next 4 months I fought for my innocence, fought for the truth. I can honestly say that it was the hardest period of my life. I went from being a professional badminton player fighting to get to the Olympics to being provisionally banned from badminton and seeing all my dreams disappear in front of my eyes. I was on the border of depression and giving up, from one day to the next I lost my identity and felt completely lost in myself. I was extremely lucky to have people around me that truly supported me. Thanks to all of them I was able to overcome these difficult moments. Not only did I receive encouragement from amazing friends, family and fiancé but also from people I wasn't acquainted with that had heard my story. I received so many messages of encouragements and I am so grateful for each one them. People kept believing in me and kept sending me love. It gave me strength to go on.
All those who know me know my values. They know that I have always believed in hard work for a fair and clean sport. The fact is, I tested positive for doping on that day in June a couple of months ago. It was unconceivable for me to have received such news when I would never knowingly go near any forbidden sport enhancing substances. After months of fighting, the verdict finally came. Even though the tournament where I was tested positive was taken away from me, I was found to 'bear no fault or negligence' and thus no period of ineligibility was given to me. I could finally play again!!!! I felt like a huge rock dropped out of my shoulders, the tears of joy came pouring in and I could not stop myself from jumping up and down. We had fought a hard battle, the hardest battle in my life, and came out of it stronger.
Unfortunately, my case is now being put under the test as it was appealed against. Another hard period of my life is coming, but I want focus on the positive and look ahead. Keep strong. The Olympic qualification is still at play, but I have a lot to catch up on. It means going for tournaments and making results fast.
I am very grateful that I still have a chance to make it to the Olympics and my biggest wish now is to train hard and achieve my dream.
To do this, I need your help. Making it to the Olympics is costly, especially since I have to catch up on the others now that I can be back on the court. I am asking you to be part of my Olympic dreams and together, we can stay strong and do it. Every donation counts and I am counting on you.
For every contribution you will receive gifts from me as a thank you for your help:
- If you contribute up to 80€ (Rs 3,200): A personalised autographed badminton card with a sticker.
- If you contribute between 81€ to 150€ (Rs 3,240 to Rs 6000): A personalised autographed badminton card with a sticker and a badminton t-shirt.
- If you contribute between 151€ to 300€ (Rs 6050 to Rs 12,000): A personalised autographed badminton card with a sticker, a badminton t-shirt and a private badminton session with me.
- If you contribute more than 300€ (Rs 12,000): A personalised autographed badminton card with a sticker, a badminton t-shirt, a private badminton session with me and a racket.
Thank you in advance for your contribution and together, let us make this dream come true!
To be as transparent as possible, please note that my godfather (Denis Foo Kune) who lives in the US is the one taking care of withdrawing the funds for me. This is because gofundme is a US based website and does not function in Mauritius.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kate Foo Kune
Organizer
Denis Foo Kune
Beneficiary