Yuan, Zhu capture singles titles

Provincial senior championships held in Stratford

Sam Yuan and Ruiwen Zhu won the men’s and women’s singles trophies for the first time at the recent Badminton P.E.I. provincial senior championships.

Zhu teamed with Sam Lawther to capture the women’s doubles title as well.

Yuan led the men’s singles field with a tense and exciting semifinal win against Quinn Conway – 21-14, 21-15. In the other semifinal, both Jack Ronahan and David Pan showed strong shot-making abilities, but Ronahan prevailed 21-15, 21-19. The final was a nail-biter as both players demonstrated great footwork, determination and a variety of shots. Yuan took the match, but needed extra points to win the battle in the first game 23-21, 21-16. Owen Hall won the consolation round.

In women’s singles, Zhu faced a difficult semifinal versus Sam Lawther, but won the lengthy match 21-17, 20-22, 21-17 to advance. In the other semifinal, Hayden Ford beat Jacqueline Hughes 21-15, 21-8. Ford gave Zhu another tough match, going to extra points in the opening game, but Zhu won the title 23-21, 21-10. Emma Hughes won the consolation.

Doubles

In men’s doubles, top-seeded Justin Barkhouse/Mark Brown were defeated in the semifinal by Kevin Yan/Sam Yuan 1621, 21-19, 21-19 in a match full of exciting rallies. The other semifinal proved just as entertaining, with David Pan/ Jack Ronahan defeating Daniel Breau/Yu Chen 15-21, 22-20, 21-16. Pan/ Ronahan went on to win the final against Yan/Yuan 21-16, 21-17.

Leon Fu/ Sam Pan were the consolation winners. In women’s doubles, Sam Lawther/Ruiwen Zhu went 3-0 (won-lost) in round-robin play to win the title. Mary Cote/ Carrie Drake teamed up to go 2-1 for second-place. Emma Hughes/Jacqueline Hughes defeated Adelle Breau/Hayden Ford for third place.

Mixed doubles

In mixed doubles, Mark Brown/Emma Hughes topped Leon Fu/Jacqueline Hughes 2110, 21-16 in one semifinal. Jack Ronahan/Ruiwen Zhu claimed the win in the other semifinal over Justin Barkhouse/Carrie Drake 21-19, 2111.

The final was a close one, with Brown/ Hughes triumphing 2117, 21-19.

Daniel Breau/ Mary Cote won the consolation.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Ruiwen Zhu, centre, won the women’s singles title at the Badminton P.E.I. provincial senior championships in Stratford recently. Hayden Ford, right, was the second-place finisher, and Emma Hughes captured the consolation title.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Sam Yuan, centre, emerged as the men’s singles champion at the recent Badminton P.E.I. provincial senior championships in Stratford. Jack Ronahan, left, took home the silver medal while Owen Hall was the consolation winner.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The team of David Pan, third left, and Jack Ronahan, third right, won the men’s doubles title at the Badminton P.E.I. provincial senior championships in Stratford recently. Sam Yuan, second right, and Kevin Yan, right, were the runners-up while Leon...