Under 13 and 17s Championships - February 2025

On Sunday 8th February, saw Highland Badminton Group hold their Annual Under 13s and Under 17s Tournament, in Inverness Leisure Centre, with players from all over Scotland entered. A total of 36 players entered across both age groups, with Sophie Mackay, Caithness, Aarav Sinha, Aberdeen both winning the treble in the under 13s and Josie Columbine, Black Isle winning a double title in the under 17s!

Under 13s

Boys singles saw two groups play in a round robin style then the top two through to the main draw and bottom ones to the consolation. Topping Group A was 1 seed Aarav Sinha and Magnus Henderson going through from Group A. Group B saw Liam Sinclair, Caithness top the pool and Jai Wilkies, Moray take 2nd and they both went to the main Draw. Lachlan Breau and Liam Wilby went to the consolation. Main draw semi-finals saw Aarav play Jai with Aarav winning 21-7, 21-7 and the second semi-final was Liam against Magnus with Liam winning 21-4, 21-*3. The final between Aarav and Liam saw Aarav win 21-11, 21-9.  The consolation final was between Lachlan Breau and Liam Wilby with Liam Wilby winning 21-7.

Girls Singles followed the same format. Group A saw 1 seed Sophie Mackay win all her games and Bhanu Duvvuri both go through to main draw and Amie Roger to the consolation. Group B saw

Seed Anvita Awasthi, Lothian win all her games securing her place in the main draw followed by Orkney’s Chloe Leask who won 2 of her 3 games. Placing April Steven and Luella Fernandes in the consolation. The main draw first semi-final saw Sophie Mackay play Chloe Leask, with Sophie winning 21-14. 21-9. The second semi-final saw Bhanu Duvvuri play Anvita Awasthi with Anvita winning 21-13, 21-14. The final between Sophie and Anvita was a good game with Sophie winning 21-15, 21-18. The consolation was won by Amie Roger.

Boys level doubles was a straight final between Liam Sinclair & Aarav Sinha and Thomas Scott & Lewis Weir with Liam & Aarav winning 21-2, 21-7.

The Girl’s Doubles was a round robin with 3 pairs taking part, each playing each other. Winning both their games and winning gold was Chloe Leask & Sophie Mackay, then the runners-up were Anvita Awasthi & Bhanu Duvvuri. Taking 3rd place was Amie Roger & April Steven.

Mixed doubles was also a round robin with 3 pairs taking part. Winning both their games and taking first place was Sophie Mackay & Aarav Sinha. Then runners up were Liam Sinclair & Anvita Awasthi winning 1 of their 2 games, taking 3rd was Jai Wilkes & Chloe Leask, finding their feet as a new paring.

Under 17s

Boys Singles followed the same format as the under 13s. Group A saw Yuanxi Cui 1 seed top the group with Alexander Mackay 2nd and then Kian Leask and Finlay Mcdonald both headed to the consolation. Group B saw Rory Meldrum top the group and Callum Richardson take 2nd placing them both in the main draw and Ben Haringman went to the consolation. Group C Chetan Karimilla top the group and Drew Murdoch take runner-up with Matthew Cook entering the consolation. The main draw saw 2 quarter-finals take place prior to the semi-finals with Drew Murdoch playing Callum Richardson with Callum winning 21-16, 21-17. Then Alexander Mackay played Chetan Karimilla with Chetan winning 15-21, 21-4, 21-11. The semi-finals then saw Yuanxi Cui play Callum Richardson with Yuanxi win 21-19, 21-13 the second semi-final was Chetan Karimilla against Rory Meldrum with Chetan winning 21-16, 21-18. The final then against Yuanxi Cui and Chetan Karimilla was won by Chatan 21-19, 21-15. The consolation was won by Mathew Cook.

Girls Single followed the same format. Group A saw Kaiya Wilkes win both her games placing her in the main draw also with Josie Columbine. Isla Fraser was placed in the Consolation. Group B saw Annika Sinha top the table with Anna Howard in 2nd placing them in the main draw and Freya Mackay went to the consolation. Group C saw Ava Cook top the group and Ashlyn Gunn take 2nd placing them in the main draw and Diane Lloyd went to the consolation. The first of the two quarter-finals was Ashlyn Gunn against Anna Howard with Anna winning 24-22, 21-15 and the second quarter-final being Ava Cook against Josie Columbine with Ava winning 21-10, 21-12. The first semi-final was Kaiya Wilkes against Anna Howard with Kaiya winning 21-8, 21-8. The second semi-final was Avan Cook against Annika Sinha with Ava winning 21-11, 21-8. The final then between Kaiya and Ava was won by Ava 21-13, 21-15. The consolation was won my Isla Fraser.

The boys’ doubles played a round robin format with 4 pairs playing each other. Topping the table winning all their games were scratch pairing of Rory Meldrum and Alexander Mackay. Runners-up were Chetan Karimilla and Callum Richardson and taking 3rd was Kian Leask and Drew Murdoch.

Girls’ doubles were played a in form of a round robin with 4 pairs taking part and playing each other. The winner, winning all their games was Josie Columbine and Annika Sinah. Runners up were Ava Cook and Freya Mackay and 3rd was Isla Fraser and Ashlyn Gunn.

Mixed Doubles saw two groups then with play offs and consolation play off. Group A winners was Yuanxi Cui and Annika Sinha, 2nd in the group was Drew Murdoch & Isla Fraser both pairs going to the main draw and Alexander Mackay & Freya Mackay went to the consolation. Group B saw Matthew Cook & Ava Cook top the group with Callum Richardson & Josie Columbine in second both heading to the main draw then Kian Leask & Kaiya Wilkes went to the consolation. The main draw two semi-finals saw Yuanxi Cui & Annika Sinha play Callum Richardson & Josie Columbine with Callum & Josie winning 21-19, 21-14. The second semi-final saw Drew Murdoch & Isla Fraser play Matthew Cook & Ava Cook with Matthew & Ava winning 21-18, 21-15. The final did not disappoint being the last game of the day it went the full stretch to 3 sets – winning with first was Matthew & Ava 21-18, then Callum & Josie won the second and third 21-14, 21-16 respectively making the scratch pairing of Callum * Josie the winners. Runners up were Matthew & Ava. The consolation was a straight final between Kian Leask & Kaiya Wilkes and Alexander Mackay & Freya Mackay with Alexander & Freya winning 21-12.

Kerry Mackenzie, Highland Badminton Group Tournament Organiser added “Many thanks to the all the players who took part and their parents. Huge thanks to all the helpers on the day allowing the event to run smoothly, Thank you to the Leisure Centre for the use of the venue. Special well done to the all the winners and our treble and double title winners; Sophie Mackay, Aarav Sinha and Josie Columbine.”

Full Results can be viewed via link