James Ho, National Champion Since 1999

Loma Linda resident James Ho, 76, recently brought home more medals to add to his over-flowing collection. Since 1999, Ho has attended and participated in the U.S. National Senior Games and never fails to bring home a medal for his outstanding accomplishments in badminton. “I’ve been playing badminton since I was 6 years old," Ho recounted. "I started training and being coached since I was 14." This year the National Senior Games were held in Minneapolis; he competed on July 8 through July 10. Ho remains a National Champion since 1999, as he brought home the Gold for men’s doubles and the Silver for men’s singles. He explained that in order to exceed to the National Games, one must qualify the year before in the State Senior Games, which has never been a problem for Ho. This year, there were a few bumps leading up to the National Games; Ho’s doubles partner fell, injured his kneecap and was unable to participate. Ho immediately contacted the league and they were able to match him up with another player who also did not have a partner due to an injury. The hiccup wasn't enough to stop Ho. “I was worried but I coached him and was able to cover his position at times and we were still able to win the Gold,” said Ho. As for the singles championships, the winner of Pool B would play against the winner of Pool A. Ho beat the runner up of Pool A in the semi-finals as he was crowned the winner of Pool B. Next stop was the singles championships against the winner of Pool A, and Ho fought it out in a good game but fell short, taking home the Silver. Ho said, “He was a really good opponent.” Through it all, Ho had his biggest cheerleader by his side - his wife Christine has never missed one of her husband's games. “She’s my number one cheerleader. She has gone with me every time,” Ho shared. “She feeds me well so I can have energy before I play,” explaining that potatoes and hash browns are his favorite and give him a lot of energy. Ho trains three times a week at the Drayson Center in Loma Linda and it has paid off in the long run as he remains a 16 year National Champion since 1999. His first time attending the Senior Games in 1999, he won Gold medals for both men’s singles and doubles. In 2001, he won Gold for the men’s doubles and Silver in the men’s singles. In 2003, he won Gold for both men’s singles and doubles. In 2005, he won Gold for men’s doubles and Silver for men’s singles. In 2007, he won Gold again for men’s doubles and Silver for men’s singles. Then in 2009, he won the Bronze for men’s singles and was “defaulted” for men’s doubles because the game was scheduled for a Saturday. He explained since he’s a Seventh-day Adventist, “I don’t play on Saturdays.” In 2011, he won the Gold in men’s doubles and the Bronze for men’s singles. In 2013, he won the Gold for men’s doubles, Silver for men’s singles, and Bronze for mixed doubles, up to his most recent accomplishments this year, winning Gold for men’s doubles and Silver for men’s singles. Ho plans on practicing for the 2017 National Senior Games that will be held in Birmingham, Ala.