Paralympic dream for Isaak
A place among the world’s elite para-badminton players is an Edge Hill University sports scholar’s big ambition in 2019.
Isaak Dalglish, 20, from Standish, Wigan, has World and European Championship medals to his name in para-badminton, having first taken up the sport 10 years ago.
Formerly of St Peters RC High School and Runshaw College, Isaak believes the support received by Edge Hill University has been imperative in his training, which includes three days a week spent at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
He said: “My scholarship enables me to pay for tournaments, travel and accommodation, and has given me extra motivation.
“In terms of balancing commitments my lecturers are very supportive and help me as much as possible.
“I catch up when I’m not there if I am at tournaments, and make sure I keep on top of work.
“I like the balance of training and studying as it gives me different perspectives.”
Ranked No.11 in the world in singles, Isaak is preparing for his third World Championships (having made his debut at the 2013 tournament in Dortmund, Germany), which takes place in Basel, Switzerland this August.
A strong performance is key if Isaak wants to realise his main goal – selection for Great Britain & Northern Ireland’s squad for the Paralympics.