Fraser Heights 6 - 5 St. George’s / Crofton House
Saint George’s and Crofton House lost a close battle in the B.C. badminton championship to their Lower Mainland rivals from Fraser Heights. The tandem team lost 6-5 at Ace Badminton Centre on May 31.
The final was a repeat from last year’s championship match up and the line-ups were almost exactly the same.
The Crofton girls won all of their games, while the Saints boys lost theirs. At that point the match score was 5-5 and the provincial title was decided in the mixed game between Jack Lin and Emma Lin against Fraser Heights duo James Ho and Jenna Wong. They lost 21-13, 21-16.
In 2013, the private school mixed pairing of Emma Lin and Jack’s older brother, Benny, defeated Ho and Wong to win their team the provincial title. However, this year it was not to be.
Fifteen-year-old Jack acknowledged that he and Emma were outplayed.
“I think it was a mismatch. We were definitely overpowered in terms of skill, strategy and power,” he said.
The final match featured four athletes who have all competed at the national level and some internationally for Canada. The sport of badminton has grown steadily in British Columbia and as a result, competition at high school provincials is stiff.
In the past three years, the provincial final matches have all been decided 6-5.
“Since 2011, the top 13 teams have been so well matched that results come down to line-up decisions rather than pure skill,” said David Dryden, badminton director of B.C. School Sports. “We have seen more 6-5 matches between schools in pool play and playoff play recently than ever before.”
Dryden, the Fraser Heights coach for the past seven seasons, said line-up strategy played a large role in their record. They placed 12th at the 2011 provincials, won the the title in 2012 and then again this year.
Every year, the season’s intense competition inspires up-and-coming athletes.
“Provincials changed my definition of badminton,” said Kelly Chiang, who plays girls doubles for Killarney. “You must be able to control your own feelings and communicate with your partner,” said Chiang, who is in Grade 9.
Killarney finished the tournament in fourth place, losing 7-4 to Pine Tree in the bronze medal match.Â
Prince of Wales finished seventh.
This story has been corrected since it was posted.Â
