ANYONE inspired by finals day at the All England Yonex Badminton Championships in Birmingham at the weekend? In the mixed doubles England’s Chris and Gabby Adcock were beaten in the quarter finals by Watanabe and Higashino, who went on to become the first Japanese pair to win the Mixed Doubles Trophy – and they are only 20 and 21 years old!

Where do young hopefuls begin? At their local club!

We have some young stars currently playing at Queens Badminton Club and here’s a select round-up of successes over the current season.

Rhianna and Aaron Beel have been playing some regional tournaments with some great results.

Rhianna (aged nine) came runner-up in the under 13s singles at the South Dartmoor Tournament, narrowly missing out on winning by a single point!

She made up for it by winning the doubles with Freya Broom (from High Bickington Badminton Club).

Aaron (aged 13) won his doubles at the same tournament with fellow Queens BC player, Mathew Upright – with a highly thrilling match taking the win (15-13) by two points.

At the later Somerset tournament Aaron played in the under 16s singles and won, sailing through four of his matches and coming from behind in his last match 19-18 to take it 21-19.

Lorraine Beel, mother to Aaron said: “I was so proud of how he really refocused and thought about his game tactics and came back and won.”

In the South Devon tournament last month Rhianna again came runner-up in both the under 13 singles, winning five out of her six matches and the doubles.

Aaron was winner in the under 15s singles, beating several Devon under 16 players.

Teaming up with Oliver Teale in the doubles proved a winning combination and some tough matches, prevailing from 16-20 down to win 21-20.

At the Wellington tournament recently both Rhianna and Aaron won again – a clean sweep of singles and doubles titles in their age groups.

Oliver Teale partnered Aaron in the doubles victory and his brother William Teale managed runner-up in the under 12s singles and doubles.

Last month, Dee Weiner, former #ThisGirlCan Ambassador who has a rare chromosome disorder, travelled to Glasgow, to compete in the Scottish Four Nation ParaBadminton Championships and returned with medals for winning gold in the ladies doubles (Division Two) with Nikki Welch, gold in the ladies singles (Division Two) beating Katie O’Neill, and silver in the mixed doubles (Division Two) with Scottish partner Murrie Robertson.

At Queens Badminton Club we welcome players from ages four to 94. First session is free, please see our website for details: www.queensbc.co.uk .

We are running an open session for anyone between four and 11 years-old on Saturday, April 28, 8.30am to 10am at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre. Just come along and have-a-go, you don’t even need your own racket!

Kate Povey