English National Championships draw announced

The draw has been revealed for the upcoming English National Badminton Championships which take place this weekend (February 4-5).

Defending champions Ben Lane and Sean Vendy kick off their men’s doubles campaign against Ewen Stephen and Jacob Weekes at the University of Nottingham on Saturday.

The pair won men’s doubles silver at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games last summer and now go in search of their third National title.

After the withdrawals of their respective partners Rory Easton and Ethan van Leeuwen have paired up and are second seeds, while Samuel Jones and Steven Stallwood are also seeded.

In the men’s singles, Johnnie Torjussen is the top seed as he looks to win the title for the third straight year.

The top eight seeds in both the men’s and women’s singles draw all receive a first round bye, with Torjussen set to start his campaign in the second round against Ethan Rose or Adarsh Palani Kumar.

Torjussen could face Nadeem Dalvi in the last four, while the other half of the draw could pit second seed Rohan Midha against Cholan Kayan at the semi-final stage.

The women’s singles draw is headlined by second seed Gauri Shidhaye, who is now the highest seed in the draw following the withdrawal of top seed and 2021 champion Abigail Holden.

Shidhaye will start her campaign against Lucy Brierley or Kirby Ngan, with a potential quarter-final encounter against Jessica Allen and semi-final against Alexandra Oprisan.

Freya Patel-Redfearn is now the highest seed in the top half of the draw, and could face Leona Lee in the last four. 

In the mixed doubles, top seeds Jess Pugh will be looking to defend her title, playing with Easton after the withdrawal of Callum Hemming.

Pugh and Easton start their campaign against Ryan Quek and Devon Minnis.

Later on in the competition, it could be a battle of the siblings as Estelle and Ethan van Leeuwen have the chance to face off in the semi-finals.

Estelle partners with Alex Green whilst Ethan has linked up with two-time Commonwealth medallist Chloe Birch.

Greg Mairs and Jenny Moore are second seeds in the draw, starting their campaign against Ben Jarvis and Kiara Henry.

Estelle van Leeuwen and Pugh both have another chance at success as they pair up in the women’s doubles, Pugh looking to win her first title in the event since her and Jessica Hopton won in 2021.

The duo are top seeds in the event with defending champions and recent Iceland International winners Annie Lado and Abbygael Harris seeded second in the draw.

Chloe Dennis and Leona Lee, and Kiara Henry and Sophie Watson, are the other two seeded pairings in the draw, with two-time women’s doubles Birch competing alongside Jennifer Wallwork.

More information on all the draws can be found here