Young gun Evans looking to claim first title

BADMINTON aficionados have the Irish senior and U15 championships to look forward to this weekend in Baldoyle, Dublin, with many fans focusing on the likely clash of Scott Evans and Michael Watt in the men’s senior decider.

Evans, 18, has left school ahead of his Leaving Certificate to focus on badminton and is after his first title. He is now set to go to a German badminton camp for a three-year training course, beginning in May, with a view to preparing himself for the Beijing Olympics. Evans missed last year’s tournament, which was won for 11th time by Watt, with a knee injury.

Chloe McGee of Raphoe, Donegal, is another up and coming star who has yet to win a national title, but she is one of the favourites for this year’s ladies senior title.

Erin Keery is the title holder, but McGee, who recently won her first Irish senior cap, is expected to run her close this year.

In the men’s doubles, the Malaysian-trained Topping brothers will be hoping to add another Irish title to bring their tally to six, while all competitors will want to impress Irish selector Les Dewart, who will announce the Irish selection for the Thomas (men’s) and Uber (women’s) Cup teams for the international tournament to be held in Greece from February 14.

Saturday: 10am: Snr Mxd; 10.40am: U15 Mxd; 11.50am U15 Gs; 12.20pm U15 Bs; 1pm: Snr M; 2.20pm: Snr Ls; 3.30pm: U15 G d; 4.10pm: U15 B d; 4.40pm: Snr m d; 5.20pm: Snr LD; play expected to finish 19.30 approx.

Sunday: Semi-finals and finals: 10am: Mixed Snr & U15 semis; 10.40am Ls Snr & Gs U15 semis; 11.20am: Ms Snr & Bs U15 semis; 12noon: Ld Snr & Gd U15 semis; 12.40pm: Md Snr & Bd U15 semis; finals commence at 2pm; play expected to finish by 5pm.