This weekend saw Badminton Wales Richard Vaughan take the double titles at the Barcelona Badminton Open in Catalunya, Spain. Winning the Men’s singles and Men’s doubles

Former World No7 Vaughan retired from professional badminton two years ago but has kept in touch with the World circuit playing mixed with Welsh Female Number Sarah Thomas, the sixteen year old from Cardiff. The pair are now ranked 48 in the World, and top the European Mixed badminton circuit rankings.

In this week’s tournament Vaughan took the singles title without losing a set beating Berenguer in the final 21-13, 21-13.

In the men’s doubles Vaughan teamed up with local Catalan No1 seventeen year old Marc Gallardo to once again take the tournament without dropping a set, beating Hernandez and Navarro in the final in straight sets.

Vaughan commented “It was nice to be able to play so many games, the past weeks I have had some issues with tendonitis in my knee, and then a chest infection. So it is nice to be able to play the ten matches in one day. It was particularly good to play and win the doubles with Marc who is a good young local player. Hopefully he gained from the experience and can do well in the Spanish u19 badminton nationals this year. The other Catalan Junior players also did well with Lara Lucas reaching the final of the Ladies singles, and two pairs reaching the semi final of the Ladies Doubles.

Next up for Vaughan and other RVBA players is the Badminton Europe Wales Circuit event at the end of the month in Cardiff. The RVBA’s Aimee Moran is also at the European u17 Badminton Championships next week in Slovenia.