Vaughan Wins First Badminton Title in 2006

Today at the Final of the Mauritius Open in Rose Hill Richard defeated Italian No1 Klaus Raffeiner in two close games to win this the Mauritius Open in his first competitive tournament back after a lengthy period out with Toxoplasmosis.

The final score was 21/12, 21/18.

Memory Lane Cakes, one of Cardiff’s largest employers, is to support the newly formed Richard Vaughan Badminton Academy with the goal of producing the Olympic and Commonwealth champions of the future.

Over the coming months the website hope to run a number of interesting interviews with people associated to both myself as a player and on a broader level Badminton in Wales. I think the numerous interviews are very interesting and extremely positive for the state of badminton in Wales, and the UK.

Richard Vaughan wins South African pen

Richard Vaughan supported by Memory Lane Cakes defeated Top Indian Nikhil Kanetkar in the final of the South African Open 21-18. 21-23, 23-21 to take his 2nd International title thies year. Vaughan ran out a close first set, before controlling an equally close 2nd set which ran point for point, opening up a 20-18 lead, before Kanetkar pulling off some great shots and winning 23-21. Vaughan opened up another lead in the 3rd 11-3, 17-7 before straining a muscle in his leg, this saw Kanetkar come all the way back to take a 20-19 lead, Vaughan then use some great rear court play to win 23-21.

Richard Vaughan Wins Australian Open

Wales’s Richard Vaughan won the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Vaughan's rendezvous in the final was with India’s Nikhil Kanetkar, and is third time the pair have fought for top honours in 2006, on the previous two occasions Vaughan had won in close matches, the last being the final of South Africa last month. Vaughan kept up the winning record with a close 22-20, 21-13 win, which delighted the local spectators.

Richard Vaughan

Emmet:  First of all Richard, I think we’d all like to know what happened to keep you away from international badminton competition for so long?

Richard: In 2003 I had a hip cartilage repair which I successfully came back from and qualified for the 2004 Athens Olympics, however just before the Games while in a heavy training phase I picked up a triple virus of sorts (Glandular Fever, Toxoplasmosis, and a tonsillitis bacterial infection.) As a result my immune system was quite suppressed and I developed a chronic fatigue which means your immune system is virtually closed down. Its taken almost 18 months to fully recover.

 Richard Vaughan is a top player from Wales, who has represented the United Kingdom at both the Sydney and Athens Olympics.  Formerly ranked No. 7 in the World, he has won medals at the European and Commonwealth medals in the Men’s Singles. Richard will be giving us some tips on how to become a better player.

After losing in the final of last weeks Canadian Open, Badminton Wales Richard Vaughan was defeated in the Last 16 of Europe’s largest Grand Prix Tournament, the Danish Open Thursday by China’s Chen Yu 21-13, 21-7.

The first set was well contested but the difference was always Chen’s ability to put the shuttle on the floor at the back of the court. In the second set Chen’s domination in attack controlled the game and Vaughan was never able sustain enough pressure in the rallies.

First a great match at the Academy last Monday, all the games were very close hence why we ran short of time.

The Memory Lane Elfs lead the match 5-3 after the badminton, only for the Carlton Rendeers to claw them back on the physical exercise claiming the 2 points ans squaring the match.

Some magical moments from Ingram, and Tovey.

A special thanks to the referee Dave Davies for umpiring the close affair. In regards to the Academy I would like to thank all involved for making it a success especially in my absence with my return to competiton.