Barrie residents Steven Guo and Scott Browne served up a big win recently at the Ontario 55+ Winter Games, as they represented Simcoe County in badminton.
The duo were seeded first going into the tourney and cruised through undefeated to claim gold.
They won the quarterfinal in straight sets, won a gruelling tie-breaking set in the semis, 21-18, and then took the final round in two straight sets, winning both 21-18.
According to Browne, the semifinal battle was the most difficult to win.
“It was the tightest match of the tournament — just nut bar,” he told BarrieToday on Monday by phone from his home. “We were pushed to the wall.
“Not to diminish the final, it was close as well,” Browne added.
The playoff rounds for badminton at the Winter Games took place at the Chippewas of Rama First Nation’s Mnjikaning Arena Sports Ki (MASK).
Guo, who's originally from China, began playing badminton in 2010, while Browne, who hails from Toronto, first picked up a badminton racquet when he was 10 years old.
Despite playing with and against each other regularly at the Barrie Badminton Club since 2011, this year’s Winter Games marked the first time that Guo and Browne joined forces in tournament action.
When the Barrie duo learned that Orillia had won the bid for the Winter Games, they began preparing to win the gold medal.
"We started practising together to see if we could compete at the provincial level," Browne explained in a recent interview. "Over the last couple of months, we've been fairly dedicated, and we are having a great time with it."
And the key to their winning gold?
“I control the game and Scott finishes as the attacker, due to his height,” said Guo. “And we both have good defensive skills.”
The gold and silver medallists of these games, by virtue of their placement, are invited to compete at the Canada 55+ Games which will be held Aug. 27-30 in Quebec City.
