Badminton: IoM pleased with 'very strong' finish to small states championship

Manx team takes fifth place in inaugural European event in Malta

The Isle of Man badminton squad has secured what it's described as a 'very strong' fifth-place finish at an inaugural European event held over the weekend.

Six players formed the Manx team taking part in the first ever Small States of Europe Badminton Team Championships at the Cottonera Sports Complex in Malta from Friday to Sunday last week (3-5 November).

A challenging opening match on Friday saw the Isle of Man register a 5-0 loss to Cyprus before a strong response saw them take a 4-1 win over Greenland.

That win also included victories in straight games for Tobey Cheng in the men's singles; Cheng and Matt Nicholson in the men's doubles and Jess Li and Kim Clague in the ladies doubles.

The following day saw the Isle of Man face a tricky test against Iceland in their final group game with Iceland emerging 4-1 winners to progress to the semi-finals - Jess Li secured the Isle of Man's only win in this match in the ladies singles.

This meant the Manx side then faced a meeting with Gibraltar in the 5th/6th place play-off and the Isle of Man went on to finish their campaign with a commanding 5-0 win.

There were wins in straight-games for Nicholson and Mia Kirk in the mixed doubles; Ben Li in the men's singles; Jess Li in the women's singles; Nicholson and Cheng in the men's doubles and Clague and Kirk in the women's doubles.