Sophie is treble winner again in Highland Badminton Group tournament
Sophie Mackay from Dunnet was a treble winner in Highland Badminton Group’s annual tournament for under-13s and under-17s – a repeat of her achievement from 2024.
A total of 36 players from all over Scotland competed across the two age groups in the event at Inverness Leisure.
Sophie, again competing at U13 level, was one of nine Caithness Junior Badminton Club players taking part.
Also entered in the under-13s were April Steven and Liam Sinclair, while Ava Cook, Matthew Cook, Ashlyn Gunn, Alexander Mackay, Freya Mackay and Finlay McDonald competed in the under-17s.
It was the second consecutive year that Sophie had won the treble at this event.
Kerry Mackenzie, the club’s secretary and treasurer, said: “All players played exceptionally well.”
In the under-13s, Liam Sinclair reached the final only to lose out 21-11, 21-9 to Aarav Sinha.
Sophie Mackay saw off Anvita Awasthi 21-15, 21-18 in the final of the girls’ singles.
The boys’ level doubles saw a straight final with Liam and Aarav up against Thomas Scott and Lewis Weir, with Liam and Aarav taking it 21-2, 21-7.
The girls’ doubles competition was played as a round-robin, with Chloe Leask and Sophie Mackay taking gold after winning both their games.
Runners-up were Anvita Awasthi and Bhanu Duvvuri, with Amie Roger and April Steven third.
The mixed doubles event was also played in a round-robin format with three pairs. Sophie and Aarav came first after winning both their games.
Liam and Anvita were runners-up, having won one of their two games, while Jai Wilkes and Chloe Leask finished third.
In the under-17s, Chetan Karimilla overcame Yuanxi Cui 21-19, 21-15 to take the boys’ singles title.
Matthew Cook was the boys’ singles consolation winner.
Ava Cook won the girls’ singles final, beating Kaiya Wilkes 21-13, 21-15.
The boys’ doubles event was played in a round-robin format with four pairs. Topping the table after winning all their games were the scratch pairing of Rory Meldrum and Alexander Mackay.
Runners-up were Chetan Karimilla and Callum Richardson, with Kian Leask and Drew Murdoch third.
The girls’ doubles, also a round-robin with four pairs, ended in victory for Josie Columbine and Annika Sinah after they won all their games. Runners-up were Ava Cook and Freya Mackay, with third place going to Isla Fraser and Ashlyn Gunn.
The mixed doubles final was the last game of the day, with the scratch pairing of Callum Richardson and Josie Columbine taking on Matthew Cook and Ava Cook, and it went to three sets.
Matthew and Ava took the first 21-18 but Callum and Josie won the second and third, 21-14, 21-16, making them the winners.
The consolation event was a straight final featuring Kian Leask and Kaiya Wilkes against Alexander Mackay and Freya Mackay, with Alexander and Freya coming out on top 21-12.
