Tower Hamlets Badminton Academy took a healthy squad of 13 players to the U13 and U17 Middlesex restricted championships held at The Dome in Hounslow on 19th September – and proved once again that they are the dominant force in Middlesex Badminton.
Following his recent triple title win at the U15 championships, Mannah Rahman (Stepney Green School) lead the team. He put in another strong performance, despite being two years younger than his opponents. Mannah claimed the runner up spot in the U17 Boys singles, losing a high quality final 21-17. Tower Hamlets were also served well in the competition with Abul Hasnat (Stepney Green) winning his group and scoring a strong win in the quarter finals before losing a tough semi-final.
Mannah managed to recompose himself in the Boys doubles event, teaming up with fellow Tower Hamlets Badminton Academy player Fahim Shikdar (Brick Lane) to take the U17 boys doubles title in what turned out to be an all-Tower Hamlets final. Fahim Zubayer (Stepney Green School) and Gulam Mahi (St Paul’s Way School) proved too strong and powerful for their opponents on the way to the final, before losing a closely contested final 21-17 to their Tower Hamlets training partners.
The U13 event saw more success for Tower Hamlets in the shape of the young Younous Shikdar, who won his group and edged a tight semi-final encounter, reaching the final of the Boys singles. Despite taking an early lead, Younous couldn’t quite see it through. His great form continued when he teamed up with north London player Dylan Gregory to win the boys doubles event 21-15. Dylan controlled the net and Younous provided the pace and power from the back of the court to seal a comfortable victory. Another strong performance was seen from Aswad Iftekar and Maffuzul Kahar, the young pair winning their group in the boys doubles before losing in the semi-finals.
Following these performances, Mannah Rahman, Fahim Shikdar and Fahim Zubayer have been selected for the Middlesex U17 county team. Mahi has been newly selected for the U15 team, with Younous retaining his place in the U13 Middlesex county team for the coming season. The boys county selection will see them taking on Surrey, Bferkshire, Essex, Bedfordshire and Sussex over the course of the season, both home and away. The goal now is to progress from these county league groups and progress to national county finals.
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