News17th April 2014
Whilst most of us will be enjoying some time off and chocolate over the Easter break, Lydia Powell, a year 13 student at Parkwood 6th Form in Hastings, will be representing England at the World Junior Badminton Championships in Malaysia.
Lydia, and her other England team mates, are hoping for success in both the Suhandinata Team Cup and the individual Eye Level Cups. Lydia is hoping to play in the girls’ singles and mixed doubles for the team event, and the girls’ singles and doubles in the individual events.
Thirty-five countries will be competing in the championship, England has been drawn in a group with Chinese Tapei, Denmark, Afghanistan and Egypt.
Lydia has had a great start to 2014, competing in several European nations and winning her first overseas title at the IV Italian Junior International in Milan. Lydia won the mixed doubles with her partner Sean Vendy and gained a bronze medal in the girls’ doubles with Jess Hopton. She also reached the quarter-finals of the girls’ singles.
“It went really well. I was really happy with how I played. I definitely knew I had a chance of medalling out there, but I didn’t for one minute think I would win an event because it was quite strong,” said Lydia.
As well as representing England, Lydia will be celebrating her 18th birthday on Good Friday, the final day of the event.
Lydia will finish her studies at Parkwood 6th Form this summer. Her long term goal is to become one of the top five singles players in the world.
As part of the ARK network, students at Parkwood have consistently achieved high grades in their A levels, which has enabled them to apply for and study at Oxford, Cambridge and other highly competitive universities. Amongst academic subjects like English, economics and maths students have the chance to study courses in PE and sport.
You can read more about Lydia in the Hastings & St. Leonards Observer.