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Albertans capture 2 1/2 national titles

Team Alberta logoAlbertans captured 2 1/2 titles at the recent Manulife Financial Canadian National Badminton Championships held at The Glencoe Club. The competition featured strong competition across all five disciplines, with playing vying for a share of $20,000 in prize money.

Grace Gao of Calgary captured the mixed doubles and women's doubles titles. Gao, partnered with Toby Ng of Vancouver, however still representing Alberta defeated Derrick Ng of BC and Alex Bruce of Ontario 21-15, 23-21. Alberta's Josephine Wu and Nathan Osborne of the Royal Glenora Club defeated Pierre-Etienne Pilote and Caroline Vezina of Quebec 22-20, 21-14 to win the consol title.

Seeded 3/4, Gao and Joycelyn Ko of Ontario defeated the #2 seeds Roxanne Fraser and Florence Lavoie of Quebec 21-15, 21-10 in semi-final action before downing #1 seeds Bruce and Michelle Li of Ontario 21-17, 21-10 in the final.

The Glencoe Club's Alex Pang outlasted Alberta born Bobby Milroy in the final to earn the title. Milroy, unseeded, took the first game 21-19, only to lose the second game 21-23. The third game was developing into a see-saw battle, however Milroy sustained an injury to his left calf at 11-8, and was unable to continue. Pang was declared the winner.

Danny Paulson rebounded from an opening round main draw lost to win three conscecutive matches in the consolation draw before losing 21-14, 21-12 to Pilote of Quebec in the consol final.

In women's singles, Li proved to be too strong for her opponents and captured another singles title, defeating Ko 21-18, 21-11.

Kyleigh O'Donoghue of the host club, lost her opening match, before rebounding in the consolation draw, defeating Alberta team-mates Rachael Smillie 21-16, 21-12, Takeisha Wang 27-25, 21-18 and Adriana Holcek in the final with a walkover.

Jon Vandervet of Edmonton and Toby Ng had to settle for the silver medal in men's doubles, losing 22-20, 18-21, 21-18 to Derrick Ng and Adrian Liu of BC.

Andy Ko and Hao Li of Royal Glenora captured the title in men's doubles consolation, defeating Jon Harack and Sean Lamb of SK 19-21, 21-17, 21-18.

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