The Irish badminton team – including three from Raphoe – reached the final of the Sudirman Cup in China this week.
Siblings Chloe Magee and Sam Magee along with their niece Rachael Darragh made up three of the five-person Irish team that traveled to Naning.
The Irish team have had their most successful season so far, reaching their highest-ever placing in Europe in reaching the quarter-finals of the European Mixed Team Championships.
In China, Ireland reached the final, where they lost out to Sri Lanka having beaten Nepal, New Zealand and Australia along the way.
In the final Ireland started well with the experienced partnership of Sam and Chloe Magee beating Sachin Dias and Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa in three games 20-22 21-16 21-17.
The men’s doubles match was one of the most exciting games on the team list and the match certainly lived up to the billing. Sam Magee and Nhat Nguyen took the court for their second games of the final with each player winning their earlier match.
The opening game started a blistering pace with Sri Lanka knowing they needed to win this game to even the score and take the match to the deciding game.
The Irish were prepared for the attacking play from Sachin Dias and Buwaneka Goonethilleka and controlled the opening game winning 21-17. Sri Lanka were not done fighting just yet as they came straight back winning the second game 21-16.
In the deciding game the Sachin Dias and Buwaneka Goonethilleka took the control of the match as the Irish players started to look fatigued after the long week of matches. The final score 21-11 to Sri Lanka making the match 2-2 overall going down to the women’s doubles.
The Women’s doubles match was a match between Chloe Magee and Rachael Darragh against Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa and Kavidi Sirimannage. This match turned out to be the pick of the final with the match going all the way to the deciding game.
In a match that lasted 80 minutes with both teams having their chances to win, it was Sri Lanka who came out on top to steal the victory from Ireland winning 21-15 22-24 21-17
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