Irish stars shining brightly in Lithuania

BADMINTON may not be up there with GAA, rugby or soccer in terms of popularity amongst the Irish public but with Irish participation in four of the five finals at the Yonex Lithuanian Badminton Open 2011 in Kaunas yesterday, the sport has clearly attracted some of the nation’s most talented athletes.

Shining brightest for Ireland was Donegal native Chloe Magee who played a part in both Irish gold medal victories.

Magee won the mixed doubles alongside her brother Sam, overcoming top seeds, Wojciech Szkudlarczyk/Agniezka Wotkowska of Poland.

The 22-year-old then held her nerve to beat Iceland’s Ragna Ingolfsdottir after a tie break in the second set in the lady’s single final to seal double gold glory.

Unfortunately brother Sam couldn’t replicate the fete, losing out in his second final, the men’s mixed doubles, along with teammate Tony Stephenson.

The pair lost in straight sets to the Polish duo of Lukasz Moren and Wojciech Szkudlarceyk.

Dublin’s Scott Evans also narrowly lost out. Playing in front of his home crowd, Lithuanian Kastutis Navickas edged the men’s single final by two sets to one. While the players who came home empty handed may feel disappointed, results like these are helping the Irish players gain valuable Olympic points for 2011.