Pair clinch victory in Newbury Junior tournament

THE Newbury and District Badminton Junior Tournaments took place recently at Elstree School.

The format for both the Year 8 and under and Year 12 and under was a single group where each pair played all the others in the group with the four topscoring pairs moving through to semi-finals.

Year 8 and under comprised nine pairs.

Some of the pairs – notably Shlok and Kiash – were playing in their first tournament, and although they finished eighth they did win one of their games which was a great achievement.

In the semi-finals Isaac and Ivan played Advay and Achnitya and Rudra and Bethanie played Saanvi and Siddhi.

Isaac and Ivan and Saanvi and Siddhi reach the final and it was Isaac and Ivan who triumphed 21-9.

There were eight pairs in the Year 12 event, and the semi-finals saw Shaun and Parinav play Saanvi and Vivita whilst Yudeesh and Jacob played Charlotte and Stephanie.

Saanvi and Vivita were only able to match their group game against the undefeated Shaun and Parinav, losing 21-7, whereas Yudeesh and Jacob were made to work hard to marginally improve on their group win over Charlotte and Stephanie ,winning 21-18.

In the third place game between the losing semi-finalists Charlotte and Stephanie came out on top over Saanvi and Vivita.

The final promised to be a good game with Yudeesh and Jacob looking to avenge their group loss.

The game ebbed and flowed with Yudeesh and Jacob edging ahead to 20-18 only for Shaun and Parinav to fight back to 20-20.

However, a serve into the net gifted the game to Yudeesh and Jacob 21-20.

The quality of the badminton and the spirit in which the games were played are a credit to, not only the juniors but also the coaches who teach them.