Triple feat earns Reneshan Mr Badminton SA title
THE Bluff’s own badminton superstar, Reneshan Naidoo, ended his junior career with a flourish, as triple title champion at the SA Badminton U19 championship in Cape Town last month.
The matric Durban High School pupil aspired to become a successful badminton player at a young age after watching his elder brother Deshan play and win tournaments.
Having won numerous titles over the years, Reneshan brought his junior career to a close, winning the singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles at the competition, the first U19 player to do so in more than 20 years. He was also named Mr Badminton SA and Sports Boy of the tournament.
He feels incredibly proud of his success, but the humble 18-year-old hasn’t let the triumph stop his drive to achieve more. His next challenge will be his first senior competition in Benoni at the Melville Senior championships, where he hopes to make a name for himself on the next level.
He has maintained an aggregate of over 85% since grade eight and is currently top of the grade in his matric year, while training to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games. Continuing his academic achievement, next year he plans to study actuarial science at the University of Cape Town.
Last year he was awarded Springbok colours for badminton and represented KZN as captain of the U17 team at the inter-provincial badminton championships. Earlier this year he was part of the SA U19 team which retained the Africa Cup of Nations crown for the third year in a row, winning a gold and a bronze medal for himself.
With a gruelling 12-hour-a-week training schedule and rigorous academic life, there is no end to what this youngster will achieve and Bluffites can only look forward to an exciting career for one of their own.
