Australia’s golden haul
Our Australian contingent have created history at the World Junior Championships winning 3 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals It has been a golden haul for the Australians at the World Junior Championships at Broadbeach Bowls Club with Cabramatta’s Ellen Ryan and Aaron Wilson adding singles gold to the mixed pair’s gold Australia claimed earlier today.
Australian Jackaroos Ryan and Wilson topped off a golden day for Australia with victories against local hope Sean Ingham and Malaysian rising star Syafiqa Rahman to claim maiden World Junior Championship singles gold and make that three from three gold medals for Australia at this event, the first time in the history a country has claimed three gold.
Ryan followed in the footsteps of defending singles and mixed pairs champion Kristina Krstic, who ironically had to withdraw from this event due to university commitments, allowing Ryan the opportunity to represent Australia taking her place in the draw.
Ryan took the opportunity with open arms and is now Australia’s second consecutive dual gold medallist at the World Junior Championships.
Ellen Ryan said she thought one world title was enough but she will certainly settle for two!
“Aaron was a fantastic skipper who got me out of trouble when I needed him and he backed me up when I was there too,” said Ryan about her mixed pairs gold medal.
“I was nervous going into the mixed pairs final so it was good to get that game under my belt and then relax going into the singles final.
“These world titles are for my good friend Kristina Krstic who has been a fantastic support this week; I was sorry to hear that she had to pull out of this event but she is doing so well at university so a big thank-you to Kristina.”
Prior to Ryan’s singles final she teamed up with fellow Australian Open Singles Champion Aaron Teys to claim gold in the mixed pairs over Welsh duo Melanie Thomas and Jarrad Breen.
Aaron Wilson was sensational in today’s final against Sean Ingham taking the match 21-12; claiming gold to accompany the mixed pairs bronze he had already won with Dawn Hayman.
Aaron Wilson says he is stoked with what he has been able to achieve here at the World Junior Championships and knew he was in for a tough final today.
“I knew Sean was a class player and he was always going to come at me, I was able to get on top of him early and continue to apply some pressure and was lucky enough to break away towards the end,” said the newly crowned World Champion.
“Sean is one of my great mates on the circuit so when we play each other it is always tough but I had to put that all a side to give it a shot for the title.”
Australia’s medal tally at the World Junior Championships finished at three gold, one silver and three bronze.
Bowls Australia would like to acknowledge the assistance and funding provided by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to Bowls Australia for athletes in the 2016 NextGEN AUSComGames Squad program.
NextGEN AUSComGames was devised by the ACGA to provide assistance to junior players who have been identified as potential 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, and/or 2018 or 2022 Commonwealth Games level athletes.
Australia’s medal winners-
Women’s singles gold- Ellen Ryan, Cabramatta Bowls Club
Men’s singles gold- Aaron Wilson, Clayton Bowls Club
Mixed pairs gold- Ellen Ryan, Cabramatta Bowls Club and Aaron Teys, Warilla Bowls Club
Men’s singles silver- Sean Ingham, Broadbeach Bowls Club
Men’s singles bronze- Corey Wedlock, Cabramatta Bowls Club
Women’s singles bronze- Natasha Jones, Bramble Bay Bowls Club and Dawn Hayman, St Johns Park
Mixed pairs bronze- Dawn Hayman, St Johns Park and Aaron Wilson, Clayton Bowls Club
Caption- Australia creates history at the World Junior Championships winning three gold, one silver and three bronze medals.
