Bargh stars at international event

Cathy Bargh overcame illness to clinch a runners-up finish at a prestigious international badminton tournament.
Cathy BarghCathy Bargh
Cathy Bargh

Bargh came second in a very closely contested over-50 women’s singles event at the 97th All England Seniors Championship last weekend despite battling a viral infection.

Five players contested an event played under a round-robin format at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes. Three of them won three and lost one of their four matches so the placings were decided by games won and lost.

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Danish player Lone Knudsen came out on top having won seven games and lost two, Bargh was second having won seven and lost three, and Sian Williams, an ex-Wales international from Ireland, was third having won six and lost three.

Bargh came from behind to beat Knudsen, who has been her demon for the last year or more, 17-21, 21-15, 21-14. The boot was on the other foot, however, against Williams as Bargh was beaten 21-14, 12-21, 15-21 by a player she defeated en route to winning a bronze medal at the 2009 European Seniors Championship.

Sedlescombe-based Bargh, who coaches at Freedom Leisure Summerfields, saw off Pam Peard (Ireland) 21-14, 22-20 and Ursula Heale, the only other English player, 21-8, 21-4 in her other matches.

Bargh was “jolly pleased” with the outcome considering how she was feeling and was particularly pleased with her win over Knudsen. Her quest for success in the doubles, however, was scuppered by a calf injury to partner Kay Vickers.

The tournament rounded-off a long but successful season for Bargh, who is now looking forward to representing Great Britain at the World Senior Championships in Turkey during September.

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