The University of Toronto Varsity Blues badminton team fell 8-5 to the Western Mustangs on Sunday, November 8 in London, Ont.
Team captains Shilin Cheung and Mike Lawler led the way for the Blues. Cheung capped off her first unbeaten season with dominating wins in both singles and doubles, defeating Fong Cho 21-14 and 21-11 and providing the leadership for teammate Josee Matte to win decisively against Western’s Laura Vandervet and Jane Bai 21-13, 21-8.
Although Mike Lawler did not win either of his matches, he put forth a valiant effort against Western’s Peter Butler, a member of Canada’s 2008 world junior team. Lawler was in control at the interval of the first game 11-5 but then Butler began to increase the pace of the game. Lawler was named the player of the competition, as voted by the Varsity Blues team members.
Veteran Lin Wang was the players choice as female player of the competition as she played two outstanding matches – women’s doubles number two with rookie Juliet Huang and mixed doubles number three with Graeme MacInnes.
In women’s doubles the Toronto pair competed against veterans Fong Cho and Staci Miao and were beaten soundly in the first game 21-11, however the duo then gained their composure and won the second game 21-18. In the mixed doubles Lin Wang was a force at the net as she blocked many returns and consistently set up her partner for the winning smash.
The highlight of the day came in men’s doubles action where Raymond Zhang and rookie Mark Chang played outstanding match against Allan Chee and top veteran Toshiro Sambo. The pair lost the first game 21-16 but then gaining momentum to take the second game 21-18 and finished the comeback with a 21-17 win.
Other notable performances for Toronto came against Scott Bennington and Alex Bruce in the number one mixed doubles match. Melissa Hill and Dustin Yu came away with the 21-19, 21-18 victory as Hill maintained consistent pressure at the net while her partner played his best match of the season.
Full Results
The Varsity Blues return to action on Saturday, November 21 when they take on the Waterloo Warrriors in OUA semi-final action hosted by the York Lions.
