Birdie batters win gold
Posted on 24. Feb, 2010 by AreJay in Sports
TOM YAWNEY
SPORTS REPORTER
Silver medalist Jordana Langill stretches out to earn a point. (Christine Tea)
WINDSOR – The Hawks’ mixed doubles team of veteran Raymond Wong and rookie Renee Yip took gold at the OCAA badminton championships last weekend, earning a ticket to the nationals in Edmonton next week.
Wong, 22, who won the provincial singles’ title the past two years, teamed with Yip, 18, this season to form an unbeatable pair. They won every game at the tournament here.
“I think we have a really good chance for gold at nationals, probably better than I had on my own before – I’m really looking forward to it,” said Wong, who won singles’ silver and bronze in his last two trips to the Canadian college championships, which begin next Thursday in the Alberta capital.
In Windsor, Humber tied for the team title with George Brown College. “The way it works is they are just co-winners, there is no precedent to break the tie,” said tournament co-ordinator, Joan Healey.
Besides the gold from Wong and Yip, who was named OCAA women’s badminton player of the year, Hawks’ singles player Jordana Langill took home silver and the men’s doubles pair of Mark Wong and Charlie Lay won bronze.
It was a major achievement for Langill, who finished last at the OCAA tournament a year ago.
“Because it’s my second year here, I kind of knew what to expect, and I’m in better shape this year” said Langill, who also is a soccer player at Humber. “I don’t train like others do for badminton – it’s something I do on the side – so I’m really happy with how I did.”
The outcome was less satisfying for Lay – men’s player of the year – and Mark Wong, Raymond Wong’s younger brother.
“We knew making nationals would be tough for those guys but it is a little disappointing,” said coach Michael Kopinak. “Coming in we thought they should finish in the top two.”
Kopinak and co-coach Lam Trinh were named OCAA coaches of the year at the awards banquet before the tournament started.
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