Double gold glory for badminton star

A RISING young badminton star clinched two gold medals in a prestigious national tournament where he played against competitors up to three years older.

This is the latest in a series of big wins for Ripon Grammar School student and Olympic hopeful Rhys Williams, who plays in the top-level groups at Badminton England events.

The 14-year-old, from Harrogate, who started playing when he was eight years old, consistently competes as the number one seed in U17 in badminton’s highest gold-level tournaments.

Now aiming to represent Great Britain at the Junior International Tournament in 2026, the ambitious young athlete adds: “I also hope one day to achieve great results at the European Championships and the Olympics."

Having won two championship titles in U17 Gold open singles and ranked 65th nationally in the elite open singles star category, Rhys has been selected for the England Junior Performance Pathway camps, which recognises the most promising junior national players, three times.

He achieved his latest golds at the U17 Gloucester Gold Championships, one in mixed doubles and one in singles, along with a bronze medal for open doubles, having collected three golds, one silver and a bronze in earlier championships, held all over the country, this year.

The teenager, from Harrogate, joined RGS in Year 10 in September and hopes to study engineering and sports management.

He says he was inspired to take up badminton after watching local matches and admiring the skill and precision of the players and now trains three times a week, for two to three hours at a time.

When he began playing national tournaments just over a year ago, with no ranking or grading, he started at the bronze level. But over the past year, through consistent participation and strong performances, he is steadily improving his national ranking and grading.

Outside badminton, Rhys enjoys calligraphy and chess.

*Rhys is photographed, above, with  U17 National Age Group Coach Harley Towler, and below with doubles partner Anthony McEnally and  mixed doubles partner Greta Choi