Brice Leverdez of France (pictured) and Neslihan Yigit of Turkey captured the Men’s and Women’s Singles gold medals at the Mediterranean Games in Mersin, Turkey yesterday.

Nineteen-year-old Yigit, who defeated her compatriot Ozge Bayrak 21-16 21-13 for the top spot on the podium, also celebrated success in the Women's Doubles with Bayrak. Representing the host nation, they brushed aside French pair, Emilie Lefel and Audrey Fontaine, 21-13 21-15 much to the delight of Turkish fans cheering them on inside Mersin University Sports Hall No. 1. Slovenia’s Maja Tvrdy and Nika Koncut took bronze in Women’s Doubles while Tvrdy also managed a bronze in Women’s Singles, overcoming Agnese Allegrini of Italy 21-16 21-16.

Meanwhile, Leverdez copped top honours among the men with a 21-17 23-21 victory over Spain’s Pablo Abian Vicen. Another Frenchman – Matthieu Lo Ying Ping – secured bronze from Slovenian, Iztok Utrosa, 21-17 21-17.

Utrosa also lost out to the French for bronze in Men’s Doubles as he and Miha Horvat were swept aside 21-8 21-14 by Careme Baptiste and Gaetan Mittelheisser.

Croatian duo Zvonimir Durkinjak and Zvonimir Hoelbling wrested the Men’s Doubles title, winning 21-15 21-9 triumph over Emre Arslan and Huseyin Oruc of Turkey.

The Mediterranean Games, which began on 20 June, are a multi-sport event held every four years. Countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea – the meeting point of three continents (Europe, Africa and Asia) – participate in the sporting spectacle as a means of building social and cultural rapprochement. Olympic rules apply and competition ends in 13 days.

Athletes from 11 of the 24 participating nations – Croatia, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey – competed in badminton.

The Gold Medal winners:

MS: Brice Leverdez (FRA)
WS: Neslihan Yigit (TUR)
MD: Zvonimir Durkinjak/Zvonimir Hoelbling (CRO)
WD: Neslihan Yigit/Ozge Bayrak (TUR)

Article by Gayle Alleyne. Photo by BadmintonPhoto.

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