Halifax, NS…..The KPU Eagles badminton team celebrated a silver medal in women’s doubles at the CCAA 2015 Badminton National Championship this past weekend in Halifax, NS, hosted by the University of King’s College Blue Devils. The Eagles represented the PACWEST in women’s doubles with Rosalynn Chong, Vancouver, BC and Veronica Yeung, Vancouver, BC and in women’s singles with Willine Kwee, Richmond, BC.
Women’s Singles
Eagles’ second-year Kwee went 2-3 in preliminaries as she won Round 1 over Kristyn Visser of the ACAA (21-9 and 21-10), and Round 4 over Lindsay Ross of ACAC 2 (22-20 and 21-13). The business major advanced to the semi-final round but fell 2-0 to Olivia Lei of OCAA 1 (21-9 and 21-4), and then dropped the bronze medal round to Cindy Fu of OCAA 2 (21-10 and 21-14).
Eagles' Kwee in preliminary rounds at the 2015 CCAA Badminton Nationals
Photo Credit: UKC Blue Devils
Women’s Doubles
KPU’s third-year Chong and first-year Yeung went 3-2 in preliminary rounds as they defeated Maddie Alvarez and Lacey Banman of the ACAA 2-0 (21-11 and 21-7), Christina Duong and Michelle Chow of OCAA 2 2-1(16-21, 21-17, and 21-13), and Kai-Li Huang and Hellena Fedoretz of ACAC 2 2-1 (15-21, 21-14, and 21-14).
Chong and Yeung repeated their victory over OCAA 2’s Duong and Chow in the semi-final round in two sets (21-16 and 21-14) to advance to the gold medal round versus OCAA 1’s Suzy Yan and Yan Zhou. The battle for the women’s doubles title was highly competitive and pushed to three sets. Chong and Yeung fell 2-1 to their Ontario opponents (19-21, 21-16, 9-21) but return to BC as the 2015 CCAA women’s doubles silver medallists.
Eagles Yeung (left) and Chong (right)
Photo Credit: Tree Frog Imaging
KPU Eagles head coach Morgan van Heukelom was very pleased with how his team competed at Nationals. “Willine, Rosalynn, and Veronica played extremely well against some of the top badminton players in Canada, which also included some very experienced international players,” he stated, “We are extremely proud of their performances, their ability to adapt to changing situations, as well as their attitude and commitment to our program.”
The Eagles thank the University of King's College for hosting the CCAA this year. For more information on the CCAA 2015 National Badminton Championship, please visit: http://www.ccaa.ca/national-championship-s15075
For more information on the Department of Athletics & Recreation, please contact Junelle Mah, sports information and marketing, at 604-786-0804 or at junelle.mah@kpu.ca.
The KPU Eagles Department of Athletics & Recreation enters its 14th season of interuniversity competition. The Eagles are members of the PACWEST conference and play in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with 100 student-athletes participating on eight varsity teams in men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, badminton and golf. KPU athletics plays its home games at the Eagles’ Nest (Surrey Campus), Northview Golf & Country Club, Newton Athletic Park, all located in Surrey, BC and the Ace Badminton Centre in Richmond, BC. The Eagles are active in the conference with staff members on various advisory committees and competing to host both provincial and national championships. The student-athletes are mainly from the lower mainland but KPU’s rosters have included student-athletes from North America, South America, Asia and Europe.
Follow the Eagles on Twitter @KPU Eagles, on Facebook www.facebook.com/KPUEagles, or on our website www.kpu.ca/eagles.