THE BORDERS’ disability sports development officer Alan Oliver was as good as gold at the European Parabadminton Championships in Dortmund at the weekend.
The world silver medallist, who is based in Borders Sport and Leisure’s offices in Selkirk, took first place in the Standing Lower Class 3 and then scooped a bronze medal with Inverness player Steven Moodie in the men’s doubles lower class 4.
Oliver won both his group matches to reach the knockout stages, where the top seed began with a bye before toppling team-mate Jarvie 21-11, 16-21, 21-9. In the semi-finals he overcame Spanish joint third seed Simon Cruz Mondejar 22-20, 21-9 before taking a closely-contested final against the other joint third seed Daniel Lee of England 21-17, 21-19.
On returning to the Borders on Tuesday Oliver told TheSouthern: “I’m still in shock actually!
“It is a great achievement winning the European Championships and to play so well in all games was an added bonus. Add to that the support of my coach and team mates and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to win.”
In the doubles, Oliver and Moodie were third seeds and came through their group with two wins. But in the semis they lost to Peter Schnitzler and Katrin Siebert of Germany 21-16 21-11 and had to settle for bronze.
Coach Kaity Hall said: “Alan’s final was almost too difficult to watch, let alone coach. I was a nervous wreck afterwards as it was just so brilliant for Alan and the team it was difficult to hide my emotions. I must add I was not the only one!”
Alan and the team will now head straight into preparations for the World Championships in France in September 2013.