Kyle wants to follow in big cousin’s footsteps

THERE could be another badminton sensation from the Magee family.

Chloe Magee, who has won numerous titles and accolades over the years played for Ireland at two Olympic games in Beijing and London; now her younger cousin Kyle is making strides amongst the badminton world.

The Bready Jubilee Primary School student has been selected for the first time as part of the Irish team to participate in the Catalunya Open this week.

“Hopefully if I get picked in years to come I maybe can play at the Olympics, just like Chloe,” stated Magee.

“If I do want to play at the Olympics one day, I know that I have to put in a lot of hard work and dedication.”

The 11-year-old recently finished runner up at the Irish Under 15’s boys doubles competition, and a similar display in Spain would do nicely.

“I got through to the finals of the Irish Under 15’s boys doubles competition at Lisburn and I was runner-up, which was good,” he added.

“I’m over the moon that I’m in the squad and hopefully I can do well in Spain.

“It depends on the competition when I get over there, but it would be good if I did get a medal.”

Kyle, who has been in the Ulster squad since the age of eight, finishes his season off in March at the Irish Under 13 championships and doing well in both Spain and next month’s competition would be great particularly after having had some hard training sessions with the Irish squad.

“I had three training sessions and they were hard, but I really enjoyed them. I also train with Foyle Badminton club for two hours on a Saturday night and with the Ulster squad, at Bready and all those training sessions helped me.”

His mother Claire and father Wesley are thrilled that their little man could be following in their big cousin’s footsteps in years to come.

“With it being Kyle’s first cap for Ireland we couldn’t miss that,” insisted Claire.

“All the family is delighted he has been selected, we are really, really proud of him, he has put in the hard work and he’s determined.

“I have to say that he’s very very dedicated to his training and when Kyle puts his mind to something, that’s it. He really has an old head on young shoulders and he can read a game of badminton fantastically well.”

Kyle’s mother also admits that Chloe has played her part in his success, because whenever she can the Raphoe girl practices with her cousin.

“When Chloe is home and she has time, then she and her brother Sam would train with Kyle sometimes and both Chloe and Sam are kind of what Kyle is looking up to.”

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