A first for Fox

DUBLIN teenager Keelin Fox underlined her rising status in Irish badminton when she won her first senior national singles title…

DUBLIN teenager Keelin Fox underlined her rising status in Irish badminton when she won her first senior national singles title by beating defending champion Elaine Kiely in a three set final. Lisburn's Michael Watt defended his singles title in another final which went the distance against second seed Jim Colfor.

Sonya McGinn's hopes of regaining the title ended when she suffered an old knee injury. The Irish Number One was forced to withdraw from her semi final meeting with Fox yesterday afternoon. Michael O'Meara also had his championships ruined when a foot injury forced him out of the doubles final where he and his partner, Bruce Topping, were the defending champions - Mark Peard and Donie O'Halloran collected the title.