Two talented pupils from Loughborough Grammar School have been chosen to attend an elite training session at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes next month. The prestigious invitation places the boys among just 12 players from across the country selected to take part in the highly competitive England Junior Performance Pathway programme.
Exceptional Talent Recognised
The initiative, run by Badminton England, is designed to identify and develop the next generation of elite badminton talent. Both pupils are key members of the school’s badminton team and have demonstrated exceptional skill, commitment and competitive success to earn their place at the national training session. The duo also both play for Leicestershire County.
Pathway to International Level
The Junior Performance Pathway provides a structured route for talented young athletes to progress towards international level competition. The training session will give the boys the opportunity to work with national coaches, experience high-performance environments, and benchmark themselves against some of the best junior players in England.
Harry said: "I think this is a huge accomplishment for me and I’m happy that the hard work and many hours of training paid off. I’m looking forward to competing with everyone in the future."
Ibthiha added: "I’m looking forward to playing with the top players in the country and to be able to compete with them. I’m also hoping to gain help on what to improve on and confidence in knowing that I am able to compete with the top players in the country."
School Pride and Success
Rachel Lewis, head of PE at Loughborough Grammar School, commented: "We are absolutely delighted to see two of our pupils recognised at this level; to be selected as part of such a small and competitive group is an incredible achievement. Badminton continues to be a strong sport within the School, and opportunities like this are invaluable in supporting our pupils to fulfil their potential. We look forward to seeing how they benefit from the experience and continue to develop in the sport."
The selection builds on a standout year for the sport, with the school's U14 badminton team crowned national champions at the School Sport Magazine national finals in March.
