It was a big day for Richmond athletes at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer on Wednesday — led by badminton standout Wendy Zhang.
The 16-year-old Grade 11 Richmond High student, who is a member of the national junior team and plays out the Clear One Badminton, captured gold in women’s singles and doubles in dramatic fashion.
Televised nationally on TSN, Zhang rallied for a 2-1 win over Ontario’s Talia Ng in the singles final. Zhang dropped the first game 21-12, then responded by taking the next two by 21-14 and 21-17 scores.
Her road to gold spanned over three days and included five wins. She defeated Quebec’s Camille Leblanc in the semi-finals (21-14, 21-16) and got past Ontario’s Rachel Chan in the quarters (21-15, 21-19).
Earlier in the day, Zhang teamed with Clear One training partner Kylie Cheng to win doubles gold against Quebec’s Alyson Ruan and Leblanc. The match went the distance including a 22-20 deciding game.
Zhang/Cheng defeat another Quebec team in their semi-final match a day earlier that also went three games.
In judo it was podium finishes for Steveston’s Ian Ryder and Caleigh Kuramoto.
Ryder showed why he is one of the top up-and-coming judokas in the country and why he has taken his career to the national training centre in Montreal with a dominating performance.
He used one of his favourite throws twice to defeat Quebec’s Martin Penchev to take gold in the +81 kg. division.
“That’s a throw that I practice a lot. The uchi mata throw (one of the most tradition judo throws) is one I am confident with and I used it twice today to defeat him (Penchev),” said Ryder. “I didn’t get the full point on the first try but got it done on the second try to take the gold.”
Meanwhile, Kuramoto continued what has become a family tradition by winning silver in the -57 kg. class. It’s the same medal her father Craig won when he competed at the 1987 Canada Games in Cape Breton. Her uncle won gold four years earlier in Lethbridge.
“I fight her (Alberta’s Kiera Westlake) a lot, and every time I get a bit closer and closer. I felt confident going into the final but I couldn’t beat her today,” said Caleigh. “I am proud of my podium finish. My dad walked away with a silver medal when he competed in the Canada Winter Games, so I am excited to be able to do that as well.”
On Tuesday in figure skating, David Li concluded his impressive competitive season by earning bronze in Pre-Novice Men.
His Connaught Skating Club teammate Wesley Chiu enters tonight Novice Men’s free skate in first place.
The Games wrap up on Saturday. BC currently sits fourth in the medal standings with Quebec setting the pace.
