Open men’s runner-up Ryan Lo, champion Chhong Voeurn and open ladies’ runner-up Amy Payne and champion Madison Knight. Photos: Supplied
Badminton is alive and well in Cobram with more than 40 players vying for honours in the District Badminton Singles Championships last Friday night at the Cobram Sports Stadium, where the Voeurn family were successful in taking out three championship titles.
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Chhong Voeurn reigned supreme in the highly competitive Open Men’s division. A close tussle with Ryan Lo, 21-20, saw Chhong remain undefeated and snatch the open championship title.
Under-21 Champion Bailey White.
Bailey White was also in peak form to be the top 21-and-under player in the Open Men’s division, just six points behind Chhong’s overall total in the five sets played, with Shem Swoffer and Carlo Ditchon hot on his heels, proving to be formidable opponents.
The Open Ladies’ Championship saw Madison Knight take the honours with a total of 74 from Amy Payne with 72 points.
A-grade girls runner-up Ava Talbot and champion Melissa Voeurn, with A-grade boys runner-up Nathan Gossayn with champion Aden Modderkolk.
A force to be reckoned with in the future, Melissa Voeurn followed in her father’s footsteps as she matched it with the Open Ladies and dominated the A-Grade Girls event to take home the title. Ava Talbot was runner-up in this section.
The A-Grade Boys Championship was a ‘walk in the park’ for young Year 10 Cobram Secondary College student Aden Modderkolk, having all the answers for his Year 12 counterparts to be undefeated and a deserving winner with a perfect score.
Nathan Gossayn was runner-up with 54 with Shadan Alsabti just one point away on 53. It is exciting to see the great improvement by the boys in their game during the season as a result of regular competition against the seniors.
(From back) Cedric Pang, Bosco Su, Jessica and Vanessa Voeurn, Harlin Robbins; (front) Harry Thompson, Ben Dean and Maddix Kong all played some outstanding badminton during the tournament.
The B-Grade Boys title was hotly contested. These young lads are to be commended on their great badminton skills and a never-give-up attitude, as well as the organisation of their section at the tournament.
The B-Grade final for Year 9 saw Bosco Su take the honours over Cedric Pang while the B-Grade final for Year 8 saw Maddix Kong and Harlin Robbins fight it out; Maddix snatching the title 15-11.
The B-Reserve Boys final was an extremely close contest with Harry Thompson holding strong in the final seconds to steal the honours from Ben Dean 16-14 in a tie-breaker.
Once again it was a family affair for the B-Grade Girls division with sisters Jessica and Vanessa fighting it out to see who would add a trophy to the family’s trophy cabinet. Jessica took the honours on this occasion with a perfect score of 45 points over Vanessa’s 43 points.
Melody Su joined her brother Bosco when she turned the tables on Angelina MacKay in the C-Grade Girls Singles after Angelina had reigned supreme in the Girls Doubles earlier in the season.
Both girls have a lot of ability and no doubt will continue to improve to be skilful young players in the future.
For the C-Grade Boys, what a fight and so much young talent on display in this section.
With both lads undefeated in the section, Jordan Talbot and Coen Pang fought out an epic final. After a see-sawing match, Jordan took the honours 11-9.
C-Grade girls champion Melody Su and runner-up Angelina MacKay, C-grade boys encouragement award recipient Xavier Talbot, champion Jordan Talbot and runner-up Coen Pang.
Congratulations boys, no doubt two badminton stars of the future. Youngster Xavier Talbot picked up an encouragement award for his outstanding efforts against the older players in the C-Grade.
The tournament concluded with the popular serving competition which was won by Nathan Gossayn with a perfect score of six, and runner-up Harlin Robbins with five.
A big thank you to the parents who helped organise the younger grades and also best wishes to Maddix Kong, Harry Thompson, Harlin Robbins and Ben Dean, members of the CAGS Year 8 Boys badminton team who will be competing in the State Schools Regional Finals this week.
Hopefully you can bring home gold boys, and have the opportunity of contesting the State Finals in Melbourne.
