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Niall Crowned European Badminton Champion 4th June 2008 Click for pics
Niall McVeigh - Disability European Badmington Champion 17 year old Niall McVeigh is the new European Men's Singles Disability Badminton Champion. Niall, who plays for the Pan-Disability Lisburn Badminton Club, was a member of the Irish team which competed at the recent European Disability Badminton Championships in Dortmund, Germany.
Playing in the Dwarf Classification, Niall fought his way through to the final where his opponent was the strong Russian player, Alexandr Mekhdiev. Playing controlled badminton, Niall captured the first set 21/14. Mekhdiev then came back to take the match into a decider by capturing the second set 21/15.
In a pulsating third set, Niall showed his renowned fighting qualities and in the penultimate point of the match played a 24-stroke rally, recovering three times from having to dive across the court to keep the rally going, to reach match point and take the European crown 21/19. Such was the quality of this final that both players received a standing ovation.
Niall did not have much time to rest on his laurels as he took to the court once again, this time in the Men's Doubles final with his English partner Krysten Coombs. Their opponents were the top seeds and number one pair within the UK and Ireland, Andrew Martin and Oliver Clarke. Krysten Coombs and Niall McVeigh
The first set went to Martin and Clarke 21/15 due largely to too many errors from Niall and Krysten. However, in the next set the tables were turned with Niall and Krysten eradicating the mistakes and playing some astute rallies to take the set 21/16.
In a topsy-turvy deciding set Martin and Clarke eventually established a 19/15 lead only to be pegged back to 19-all by way of some determined play from Niall and his partner. A second European crown was tantalisingly within Niall's grasp, but unfortunately it was not to be with Martin and Clarke taking the third set 21/19 and the European title.
Luke Irvine and Pierre Estorges The other member of the Irish team, Luke Irvine, also from the Pan-Disability Lisburn Badminton Club, showed sustained improvement throughout the Championships and was rewarded when he won the bronze medal in the Men's Doubles with his French partner, Pierre Estorges.
Luke also showed that he is fast improving in the singles arena when he reached the quarter-finals where he lost to Oliver Clark, the third seed from England, 21/6, 21/10.
Niall and Luke were both financially supported for these European Championships by Sport Lisburn, Ulster Sport and Recreation Trust, Express Parcels, The Baird Group and the Ulster Branch Badminton Union of Ireland.
Irish Team Manager Tracey Hughes and coaches Leslie Dewart and Eugene McVeigh were all delighted with the performances of both players. Niall and Luke's next major event will be the Welsh 4 Nations Championships in Cardiff on 15-17 August 2008, where they will compete with other members of the Pan-Disability Lisburn Badminton Club who will be competing in the wheelchair, standing and learning disability categories.
Once again participation at such an event will require a heavy financial outlay.  If any businesses and/or individuals would be interested in sponsoring the Club's trip to Cardiff, please contact the Club's manager, Tracey Hughes on 078 9022 9135.