BADMINTON: Lisburn twins off to Sweden for International tournament

Lisburn twins, Rebecca and Rachael Woods will be competing in the prestigious Swedish Skanska Under-17 International in Malmo this weekend.

The tournament presents them with an opportunity to gauge their early season form against some of the top European players in the Under-17 age group.

In the women’s singles Rachael, who had a fine win over Portugal’s Mariana Leite in the Carlton Irish Under-19 Open, faces Frida Emanuelson who is seeded No. 3 in the doubles with her partner, Ellen Skott while Rebecca will clash with Sweden’s Matilda Petterson with the winner to meet Johanna Vaxell for a place in Round Three.

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With a top class entry of 32 in for the women’s doubles the top Alpha and Irish pair from Lisburn will be keen to put behind them the three set defeat at the hands of top Scottish pair Rachel Andrew and Rachel Cameron will face Sweden’s Alice Lindhe and Emmy Robertson if they can negotiate their passage through to Round Two and see off Emilia Apelqvist Bafverfeldt and Maria Sjodahl in the opening match.

Meanwhile Rebecca will be teaming up with one of England’s top Under-18 players James Penver in the mixed doubles and they meet the Danish pair Silas Knudsen and Natashja P Anthonisen and could expect to come up against the No. 4 seeds Rasmus Espersen Franck Prasz and Nathilde Cramer of Denmark for a place in the quarter-final.

Rachael renews her partnership with top English player William Jones in the mixed doubles and they are seeded No6. They will be opening their challenge against Sweden’s Victor Ramstedt and Emelie Backlund.