The West German Badminton Championships in classes U11 to U19 are a highlight every year – especially for the ambitious students and young people of SC Union Lüdinghausen. They won big in Mülheim, with the local Bundesliga team’s youngsters winning six gold medals alone. Some of the first places were not entirely unexpected, but others were. A total of 23 Unionists qualified for the competitions.
In the youngest category (U11), the unseeded 08 pairing Romy Gödde/Aliya Höning won the girls doubles title. The Lüdinghausen women surprisingly defeated the favored duo Elin Diehl/Ilvie Nierhoff (BV RW Wesel/TSV Heimaterde Mülheim) 2-0 in the quarter-finals and also remained without losing a set in the semi-finals and final. Annelie Tonner took another podium place, coming second in the individual.
Gold, silver and bronze at Kashura
In the U13 age group, the top-seeded Union doubles Ineke Block/Amelie Kaschura showed no weakness. In the final there was a clear two-set win (21:10, 21:19) over Kailynn Huang (TV Refrath) and Rosalie Schwarz (BV RW Wesel). In the individual, Block came second, Kashura came third. Second place in the mixed doubles went to Jannis Kampmeier (BC Phönix Hövelhof) and Kaschura, who completed her set of medals.
Clara Storck was also pleased with the great results for those aged 15 and under. In the mixed doubles she won the runner-up title with clubmate Konstantin Tonner, and in the singles and doubles with Susann Adamek (1. BV Mülheim) she came third. Tonner also took silver in the individual event.
Thrilling finale in the girls’ doubles
Leon Kaschura (U17), who decided not to take part in the doubles this year, convincingly secured the titles in the singles and, alongside Unionist Juna Bartsch, in the mixed doubles. Bartsch also triumphed in the doubles with Marie Fein (Spvgg. Sterkrade-Nord). In a thrilling final, they defeated favorites Lisa Paula Bonnemann (BV RW Wesel) and Nina Steffes (TV Refrath) 2:1 (21:14, 18:21, 21:14). Bronze went to Julika Block – in the singles as well as in the doubles with Dana Arnold (VfB GW Mülheim). Felix Sargin and refrather Nils Barion achieved the same thing in the boys’ doubles.
Meanwhile, U19 woman Annchristin Block crowned her last appearance as a teenager at the West German Championships with first place in the mixed doubles, together with Ho Duc Tran (SSV WBG Bochum). In the individual, Block also made it to victory in third place.
