Gold Star events are only for the top ranked players in the country

Feltwell’s Harry Wakefield, 13, from West Norfolk Junior Badminton won two bronze medals at the national under-15 Gold Star tournament in Gloucestershire.

Gold Star events are only for the top ranked players in the country, so the competition was very strong. Harry, who is personally sponsored by Top Spin Tennis, played in the boys’ singles, mixed and doubles events.

In the singles group stage, Harry won his first two matches, but then lost to third seed, Ethan Hosken from Bucks, so did not progress.

In the mixed doubles, Harry played with regular partner, Chloe Dennis from Suffolk. They were made third seeds. It was a large entry in a straight knock-out tournament, and the pair won their first rounds, then their quarter final, to face the top seeds, Oliver Butler from Oxfordshire and Tashvi Parab from Bucks, in the semi-final. They narrowly lost 16-21, 14-21, so were awarded bronze medals.

In the boy’s doubles, Harry played with Isum Arachchige from Bucks and despite one really close three-setter the boys won all three initial group stage matches.

In the knock-out round, they won their quarter-final, but then lost to the number one seeds, Oliver Butler and Ethan Hosken in the semi-finals. They nearly caused an upset in the first game, just losing by 20-22, but were unable to maintain that level in the second game.

It earned Harry his second bronze of the day, in what was the highest level of tournament in England.

n West Norfolk Junior Badminton is sponsored by Roythorne’s Garage of North Wootton.