30 November 2024
Oliver Butler and Samuel Jones triumphed in an all-England men’s doubles final to claim gold at the Welsh International 2024.
Up against Chua Yue Chern and Koon Fung Kelvin Ho, Butler and Jones won in straight games.
Butler was in action elsewhere on the final day in Cardiff, as he reached the mixed doubles semi-finals with Sian Kelly while Ethan Rose made it to the men’s singles final.
Butler and Jones did not drop a set until the quarter-finals, where they faced Loh Kean Hean and Jia Hao Jowin Wong of Singapore.
Five English pairs reached the quarterfinals, with two advancing to the showpiece where Butler and Jones beat out Chua and Ho 21-14 21-17 to claim gold.
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In the men’s singles, Ethan Rose survived a fightback from Switzerland’s Julien Scheiwiller to advance to the last four with a 21-15 16-21 21-5 win before his German opponent Fabian Roth retired at 21-5 to see him through to the final.
There he faced Karono Karono of Australia, who had the edge to win the final 21-10 21-14.
Butler and Kelly teamed up in the mixed doubles and claimed a bronze medal as they reached the semi-finals.
In the last four, they faced Joshua Magee and Moya Ryan of Ireland who triumphed 21-11 21-10.
Kelly and Annie Lado forced a decider in their women’s doubles quarter-final before losing 22-20 20-22 21-17 to eventual champions Paula Lopez and Lucia Rodriguez of Spain, as Chloe Dennis and Natasha Lado reached the same stage.
Freya Redfearn and Tashvi Parab both made it furthest in the women’s singles each reaching the quarter-finals before losing to Taiwanese opponents.
Photo courtesy of Badmintonphoto