HAWKS BADMINTON VIE FOR OCAA GOLD AT SENECA
NORTH YORK, ON: The Humber Hawks badminton teams will play for OCAA individual and team titles this weekend at the championship event hosted by Seneca College.
OFFICIAL RELEASE: Courtesy of the OCAA
TORONTO - The top 48 badminton student-athletes representing 10 schools from across the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) will showcase their skills at Seneca College on Friday and Saturday at the 2016 OCAA Badminton Championships.
Players earned their berth at provincials by finishing in the top three at their respective regional tournaments, held Feb. 5-6. Student-athletes will compete in men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
Redeemer's Owen Kurvits (Hamilton) is looking to become just the fourth men's singles champion to win three straight OCAA gold medals. The third-year athlete went undefeated at west regionals. His biggest challenger could be Seneca first-year player Wenchao Shi (China), who went undefeated at east regionals.
Also looking for a singles repeat is Humber's Olivia Lei (China). The reigning women's champion did not lose a set at west regionals. Another newcomer could be Lei's biggest challenger at provincials, with Centennial's Aanchal Mehra (India) going undefeated at east regionals.
A new champion will be crowned in men's doubles. Humber's Ryan Chow (Mississauga), who took silver in 2015, is teaming with Adam Dong (China) this year. Dong was a mixed gold medalist last season. The duo were undefeated at west regionals. Seneca's Allan Tong (Scarborough), who won bronze last year, is partnering with Peter Nie (China) on home court. Both went unbeaten at east regionals.
Seneca's Yan Zhou (China) is looking for a repeat as women's doubles champion. She has a new partner for 2015 in Rachel Nham (Vietnam). The duo had an unblemished mark at east regionals. The Fanshawe team of Jodi Grobbecker (Stratford) and Riley Hogan (Sault Ste. Marie) are looking to improve on their bronze medal performance last season. The pair were undefeated at west regionals.
A new champion will be crowned in mixed doubles. Humber's Jesse Assing (Bethany), a men's singles silver medalist in 2015, is partnering with first-year teammate Phuthita Nilyok (Thailand). Both were undefeated at west regionals. Their top rivals will be George Brown's Tomomi Tamura (Japan) and Benjamin Yong (Mississauga), the undefeated east regional winners.
Six individuals or pairs in each of the five events will compete in a round robin ending Saturday. The top four advance to the medal round, with the semi-final winners competing for the OCAA gold medal.
The top two OCAA singles players and doubles teams of the five disciplines will represent Team Ontario at the 2016 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Badminton National Championship, hosted by Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, B.C. from March 2-5.
Championship Website: senecasting.prestosports.com/varsity/2016_OCAA_Badminton/index
Championship Webcast: senecasting.prestosports.com/varsity/Webcast
Championship Schedule
Friday, February 19
Rounds 1 and 2 - 12 p.m.
Rounds 3 and 4 - 3 p.m.
Saturday, February 20
Round 5 - 11 a.m.
Playoff and Medal Rounds* - 1:30 p.m.
*OCAA Medals presented at conclusion of medal rounds
- OCAA -
ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 30 members sponsoring 11 sports.
For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com
OFFICIAL RELEASE: Courtesy of the OCAA
