SSBU Report: Exciting Matches and Standout Performances at Wishaw’s 2011 Age Group Event
Wishaw played host to an action-packed day of badminton on February 8th, as 28 talented young players competed in the 2011 Age Group event. The competition was fierce across all categories, with thrilling matches and impressive performances from rising stars.
Boys’ Singles
The boys’ singles event saw an impressive 18 entries, leading to five competitive pools. The seeded players lived up to expectations, all successfully advancing through the group stage and into the semi-finals. In the top half, No. 1 seed Divyam Goyal (G & NS) put in a dominant display to defeat Atharv Sharma (West) 21-15, 21-8. The other semi-final was a tight contest, with second seed Kaliq Rafiddi (West) overcoming Kanishk Tata 21-17, 21-15.
The final proved to be a thrilling showdown, with both players battling hard for the title. In the end, Kaliq edged out Divyam in a nail-biting 24-22, 21-18 victory, securing the top spot in style.
Girls’ Singles
The girls’ singles event featured two pools of four, with Ayrshire’s Lexie Boland delivering a standout performance. She impressively defeated both seeded players in her group, while Lothian’s Sophia Gajri claimed the consolation singles medal.
Lexie continued her fine form into the semi-finals, where she faced a tough challenge from Lothian’s Eva Li. In an intense match, Lexie triumphed 21-19, 25-23. Meanwhile, top seed Maggie Wang (Lothian) showcased her quality, easing past fellow Lothian player Giselle Lee 21-12, 21-12. The final saw Maggie take control, ending Lexie’s fantastic run with a composed 21-14, 21-14 victory to claim the title.
Boys’ Doubles
Seven strong pairs competed in the boys’ doubles, with the top-seeded teams making their way through to the semi-finals. However, there was an early upset when third seeds Atharv Sharma & Ansh Timalapur stunned top seeds Divyam Goyal & Neev Lukhi in the pool stage with a tight 23-21 win.
This led to an exciting semi-final, where Divyam & Neev bounced back with a commanding 21-6, 21-9 victory over second seeds Aayush Nagdeve & Kanishk Tata (North East). In the final, they had a chance to avenge their earlier loss against Atharv & Ansh, but the third seeds proved too strong once again, securing the title with a hard-fought 21-18, 21-17 win.
Girls’ Doubles
The girls’ doubles event saw a strong turnout, with more entries than the singles competition—a rare and exciting occurrence! Five pairs competed in a round-robin format, leading to several thrilling three-set matches. After a series of closely contested battles, Eva Li & Maggie Wang (Lothian) emerged victorious, capping off a fantastic day of badminton.
Looking Ahead
The next SSBU event, the Gibb Memorial Secondary Quaichs, will take place at Scotstoun on February 28th, followed by the eagerly anticipated Secondary Championships in Kilmarnock. With such a strong display of talent in Wishaw, these upcoming events promise even more top-quality action!