Badminton WA Under 17s team 2019: The Coaches Team Challenge

Dear readers

The Coaches Challenge started at 10 30 am.

There were group photos taken for the team and the challengers.

The Coaches team and the State team

The 2014 WA Under 17s State team

The captain, manager, coach and umpire

There was a decision that we would try and save $30 each and not pay for the team photos that are usually taken at the tournament. We decided to take our own. I must say the result was not bad if I may say so myself.

The team did their first team cheer before getting on to the first matches. The first matches were the mixed doubles games.

Gavin and Bella went down in 2 sets against Eddie and Jolene who are both much older than the WA team players.

Jasper and Sophie were no contest against Daryl and Amanda.

Tyzton and Olivia could not contain experienced Crystal and Andrew Belcher also going down in 2 sets.

Edward and Julia also went down against Soniq and Angie.

Only Xiang and Gerimay the 2013 Under 15s mixed champs won against Kai Chen and Eunice in 3 sets.

After a brief pep talk, the players started their singles games. Gavin got more points for the team winning in 2 sets against Daryl. Tyzton got the first set against Soniq but lost closely in the next 2 sets.

The Under 15s singles champ could not contain the Under 19s singles champ Eddie Hung. Xiang lost in 2 sets.

Bella then went against Amanda and managed to win in 2 sets.

Gerimay went for a 3 setter to win against Eunice who admitted she was out of shape as she has been concentrating on her studies.

Olivia went down fighting against Jolene in 2 sets.

Edward also could not contain up and rising Kai Chen, losing in 2 sets.

Sophie was also unable to beat Angie going down in 2 sets.

Jasper went fighting against Andrew Belcher but could not contain the older and taller Belcher.

Julia then fought a 3 setter before losing to Crystal.

There was a short rest before the team started on their doubles games. Gavin and Edward lost to Andrew and Eddie in 2 sets. Gerimay and Sophie also lost in 2 sets to Eunice and Crystal.

Jasper and Xiang won in 3 sets against Soniq and Kai Chen.

Bella and Julia faced Angie and Crystal but could only survive 2 sets.

Xiang and Tyzton also lost in 2 sets against Eddie and Daryl.

The last game was between Gerimay and Olivia against Jolene and Eunice. It was a close fight but WA managed only 2 sets.

The Under 17s lost 34 games to 12. Not bad against a much more experienced team which mainly comprised of players form the previous year's Under 19s players.

They will have to do better against the President's team.

There was lunch with the challengers prepared by the parents who are always supportive.

In between the games, I managed to do some interviews of the players.

Some of these kids are quite cheeky even when they are being interviewed.

Half way through the games, I had to return to Perth to pick up Jazton as he had locked himself out.

Jaz and I then went to Armadale Golf course for a quick 9 holes before returning to the club to see what the players were doing.