Impressive Performances from U19 Stars in Dublin Showdown

1st September 2025 by Robert McLean

Our Under 19 athletes delivered a series of outstanding performances last week as they competed against some of Europe’s elite in a high-level tournament in Dublin.

Among the standout displays was the men’s doubles pairing of Lewis Smith and Blair Tait, who battled their way to the quarter-finals with strong performances throughout. Their impressive run came to an end against the Portuguese number three seeds Tiago Berenguer and Alexandre Bernardo, with the match decided in two razor-thin sets: 21-17, 21-19.

Another highlight came from Malik Clowes, who teamed up with Danish partner Christopher Kunckel. The duo also reached the quarter-finals, where they faced the top-seeded Spanish pair Alejandro Gallego and Gonzalo Isabal. In one of the most gripping encounters of the tournament, Clowes and Kunckel pushed the top seeds to three sets, eventually falling 21-12, 17-21, 21-10 in a hard-fought battle.

These performances not only reflect the high skill level of our U19 squad but also underscore their potential on the international stage. Competing toe-to-toe with Europe’s best, our players showcased determination, composure, and technical excellence.

👉 A huge well done to all our players who competed this week: Lewis Smith, Luke Parkinson, Malik Clowes, Arnav Saraswat, Alfie Martin, Blair Tait, Chloe Mackenzie, and Deepti Vijayakumar. You’ve all done yourselves and your team proud!

For a full breakdown of the Dublin tournament results, visit the BWF official page here.

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