The 2024 Yukon youth badminton championships were hosted at Porter Creek Secondary School on May 4 and 5. Signed up for the competition were 50 players in categories for athletes under 13, under 15 and under 17. Singles, doubles and mixed doubles featured in the competition. More than 150 matches were played in a double-elimination format.
In the youth women's U13 category, Tashvi Bathia dominated the three events with a victory in the single final against Dorothy Dallaire, another win in doubles with her partner Sophia Fouari against Alexza Lawrence and Claire Callan, and finally winning the mixed doubles with her partner Oscar Luxemburger against Dallaire and Justin Langlois.
In U13 youth men's singles, Logan Heke took first place against Paolo Zeden with a long match of 6-11, 11-9 and 11-2. The men’s doubles in the same age group was won by Malcom Dent and Elijah Jenner in a three-game rally against Samuel Boucher and Roger Luxembourg.
Kara McClean and Macéo Grottoli both dominated all the events for youth U15, with each taking home a triple crown. McClean won the women's singles against Riley Cyre, and the double with Cyre as her partner against Olivia and Haruka Ferbey. Partnered with Grottoli, they completed their three event-feat by winning against Cyre and Daniel Hu.
As for Grottoli, his single final was a long two matches of 21-19 and 21-12 against Samuel Tatsumi. His men’s double win was against Enrique Noah Carino and Hu.
In men’s single youth U17, Terrence Gian Agoot won his match with a long three games rally against Johna Irving-Staley. Irving-Staley took his revenge in doubles by winning the men’s doubles with his partner Grottoli, against Gian Agoot and Yuan Ashley Aguhar. McClean also took the win in mixed doubles with Gian Agoot against Cyre and Irving-Staley with a score of 21-16 and 21-14.
Caroline Thibault, the event coordinator and Yukon youth team badminton lead coach, was satisfied with the tournament.
“The event’s turnout was pretty good this year, with everyone guaranteed to play at least six matches when registered in the three events (single, double and mixed), as this was a double-elimination tournament. I am also happy with the unusual high number of youth 13 athletes. Our introduction to badminton program for kids aged 8 to 12 was successful this year, and many of the participants showed up at the tournament. We are hoping to offer the program again next year.”
More details about the results are available on the Badminton Yukon Facebook page.
Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com