Svetlana Zilberman (Hebrew: סבטלנה זילברמן; née Beliasova, born 10 May 1958) is an Israeli badminton player and coach that formerly represented the Soviet Union, then Israel.[1] She is currently the oldest badminton player that is still active. In 1986, she won a bronze medal at the European Badminton Championships in the women's singles event. She also serves as coach of her son Olympic badminton player Misha Zilberman (along with her husband), and as coach of Israel's national badminton team
Early life; European Championships bronze medal
She was born in Belarus. She began playing badminton at the age of 12, which is how she met her future husband Michael, who was her coach.[2][3][4]
When she lived in the Soviet Union, she was one of the top European women's singles players.[5] When she was 25 years old, she was for a time considered too old for the Soviet Union national badminton team.[6] Nevertheless, at the USSR International she won the women's singles in 1979, 1982, 1983, and 1986, the women's doubles in 1983, 1985, 1987, and 1989, and the mixed doubles in 1979, 1982, 1983, and 1985. In 1981 she won the gold medals in the women's singles and women's doubles at the French Open. In 1982 she won the gold medals in the women's doubles and mixed doubles at the Czechoslovakian International. In 1986 she won the gold medals in the women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles at the Hungarian International.
Zilberman, her husband, and their son Misha Zilbermanimmigrated to Israel in 1991.[2] She and her husband run two badminton clubs in Israel, and she also serves as coach of her son Misha (along with her husband), and as coach of Israel's national badminton team.[5] Misha describes his mother as "the most important person in my career, the inspiration for my whole life."[5] Misha is also a badminton player, and has competed at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Summer Olympics, and has also competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics.[8][9]
After emigrating to Israel, she won the Israeli National Badminton Championships 17 times in the women's singles and doubles event, and 21 times in the mixed doubles event, as of 2016.[10]
She won the gold medals in the 1997 Cyprus International women's singles, mixed doubles, and women's doubles, and in the 1998 Israel Open women's singles, mixed doubles, and women's doubles. At the 2003 IBF World Senior Championships in the age 40+ category, she won gold medals in the women's singles and women's doubles.
In 2009, Zilberman first played mixed doubles with her son, in the world championships; at the same time, she is his coach.[6] Misha said that their relationship on court is "like any mixed doubles players," as they discuss how to improve and win the match, but that off the court "she is my coach, so there is no discussion."[6]
At the BWF World Championships 2022 in August, at the age of 64 years old Zilberman became the oldest player to win a match in competition history.[11] She and her 33-year-old son Misha defeated Egyptian Olympians Adham Hatem Elgamal/Doha Hany.[11][12] The next-youngest badminton player on the list was 38 years old.[5]
