BADMINTON:IRISH OLYMPIANS Scott Evans and Chloe Magee, seeded second and fifth for the tournament, play their first-round matches at the Yonex Irish International Championship today at the Baldoyle Badminton Centre in Dublin.
An ankle injury had made Evans a doubt for the event, but he is scheduled to meet Canada’s David Snider at 11.50 this morning. The Dubliner, who is now at a career high of 39 in the world rankings, skipped the recent Norwegian Open in an effort to be fit for his home event, which has a $15,000 (€11,400) prize fund.
Magee, meanwhile, is due to play a qualifier at midday, but has received a bye in to the second round of the mixed doubles with her brother Sam, the Donegal pair seeded third.
Hans-Kristian Vittinghus is the top seed in the men’s singles, the Dane’s first-round opponent today Sweden’s Mathias Wigardt, while Elizabeth Cann of England is the favourite for the women’s title – she plays Canada’s Valerie St Jacques in the opening round.
The championships have attracted a global entry, with the United States, Canada, Peru, Russia, Israel and South Africa among the countries represented. Thirty-one Irish players entered the event, with England, Denmark, France and Germany providing the bulk of the foreign entry. The finals take place on Sunday, with play starting at 12.0.
