Glasgow competitors struggle in badminton showpiece

Clydebank College’s Gavin Haddow was unable to win a medal as the universities Edinburgh and Stirling dominated the inaugural BADMINTONscotland tournament. 

After coming through his qualifying group, Haddow went out in the first round of the men’s singles at Stirling University’s Gannochy Sports Centre after a 21-17 defeat to Edinburgh University badminton club president Xiaojun Shen. 

Kilmarnock College’s Gareth Allan also made the first round after coming through his group, losing to Napier University’s Lawrence Loo Bow 21-16. 

Haddow and Allan, who were opponents in the Scottish Colleges Sport ‘West’ badminton men’s doubles final at the Cockburn Centre in February, teamed up to make the semi-finals of the men’s doubles only to come unstuck again against Shen and partner Alan Tung.

As winners of two events thanks to their women’s team, Stirling University were the most successful higher education institution at the competition run by Scottish badminton’s governing body in partnership with Stirling University, though Edinburgh University secured medals in all four competitions.

Napier University’s Lawrence Loo Bow defeated Shen 21-16 to claim the men’s singles title, while Stirling University’s Zsuzsanna Kálcza defeated Edinburgh University Badminton Club ladies captain Fiona Pittman 21-15 in the women’s final.

Kálcza then paired up with Rebecca Cox in the women’s doubles to defeat Edinburgh University’s Anushka Sachdeva and Emma Sherry 22-20.
Shen and Tung faced off against Edinburgh colleagues Bruce Lamond and Ricahrd Perry in the men’s doubles final, winning a thrilling match 21-16 in what was a triumphant day for the university’s badminton club.

The tournament, open to all current students at Scottish universities and colleges who have not represented their country in any age group in the last five years, offered students of all abilities the opportunity to play competitive games in a fun and friendly environment.

Despite not being a BUCS event, the standard throughout was very high with all competitors embracing both the friendly and competitive nature of the event as they looked to finish in the top two of their group to progress to the knockout stages.

The opinion of the tournament was largely positive, even if some players had to find solutions to a lack of public transport options to get to Stirling for 8.45am for men’s singles registration.

A follow-up tournament could be held later in the year, with a BADMINTONscotland official admitting that an event could take place in Glasgow or Edinburgh later in the season.

Men’s Singles Final: Lawrence Loo Bow (Napier) 21-16 Xiaojun Shen (Edinburgh)

Women’s Singles Final: Zsuzsanna Kálcza (Stirling) 21-15 Fiona Pittman (Edinburgh)

Men’s Doubles Final: Xiaojun Shen & Alan Tung (Edinburgh) 21-16 Bruce Lamond & Richard Perry (Edinburgh)

Women’s Doubles Final: Rebecca Cox & Zsuzsanna Kálcza (Stirling) 22-20 Anvskha Sachdeva & Emma Sherry (Edinburgh)