Lee, Roberts spring big upsets at badminton tourney
NUMBER four seeded Mathew Lee and unseeded Isaac Roberts caused big upsets to win the Under-19 Boys’ Singles and Under-17 Boys’ Singles, respectively, at the 2015 All Jamaica Badminton Junior Championships, which was held at the Constant Spring Golf Club Racquet Complex from October 9 to 12.
While Lee whipped number one seed Shane Wilson 21-11 and 21-15, Roberts stunned number one seed Ashane Newland when he came from behind to win 19-21, 21-9 and 21-19, in their respective finals.
Lee said that it was a sweet victory.
“The feeling right now is just great as I have been training really hard for the few weeks and it paid off. It feels good to beat Shane (Wilson) because he has beaten me all the time in previous matches and I am just happy that I beat him tonight (Monday).
“I am quicker, stronger and fitter than him so I wasn’t going to make him get away this time around,” the 17-year-old told the Jamaica Observer.
Lee had a perfect evening as the talented teenager teamed up with Kenneth Anglin and defeated the pair of Delond Miller and Shaquille Palmer 21-12 and 21-10 to take the Under-19 Boys’ Doubles crown.
In the Under-19 Girls’ Singles, number one seed Esther Reynolds justified her position as she easily brushed aside Iesha Gordon 21-16 and 21-12 in the final, while in the Mixed doubles. the number two seed pair of Palmer and Gordon dismantled the pair of Jerome Henry and Karie Dawson 21-5 and 21-5.
Meanwhile, Roberts produced a dramatic comeback in the sport to get the better of his more fancied opponent.
After going down 19-21 in the first set, Roberts made sure he took the set 21-9 to send the match into a third and final set. Trailing 0-8 in the final set, Roberts drew level with Newland at 17-17, 18-18 and 19-19 before he edged away to win 21-19 to take his first Under-17 Singles title.
In the Girls’ equivalent, Shezelle McTyson defeated Tahlia Richardson 21-12 and 21-17. In the Under-17 Boys’ Doubles, the pair of Newland and Justin Taylor got the better of Roberts and Adam Taylor 21-17 and 21-17, while in the Mixed Doubles, the pair of Malik Brown and Tahlia Richardson upset Roberts and Shantae Smith 21-15 and 21-19.
Other winners were Rhys Reid (Under-15 Boys’ Singles), Shezelle McTyson (Under-15 Girls’ Singles), Rhys Reid and Zane Reid (Under-15 Boys’ Doubles), Stephanie Brown and Tahlia Richardson (Under-15 Girls’ Doubles), Adam Taylor and Shezelle McTyson (Under-15 Mixed Doubles), Zane Reid (Under-13 Boys’ Singles), Tijae Hinds and Zane Reid (Under-13 Boys’ Doubles) and Andre Stewart (Under-11 Boys’ Singles).