South Africa’s Johanita Scholtz and Amy Ackerman secured gold in the Women’s Doubles at the All Africa Senior Championships, delivering a strong performance against Algeria’s Linda Mazri and Yasmina Chibah in the final, 24-22, 21 -10.
Scholtz and Ackerman edged a closely contested first set 24-22 before taking control in the second set to win 21-10. Their composed and disciplined approach throughout the match ensured their victory and reinforced their standing in African badminton.
The duo’s journey to the title included a solid semi-final win over Uganda’s Tracy Naluwooza and Fadilah Mohamed Rafi, finishing with a 21-15, 21-10 scoreline.
Overall Performance of Team South Africa
Beyond the Women’s Doubles success, Team South Africa experienced both challenges and highlights throughout the tournament.
Day 1 saw experienced players advance to the round of 16, while newer competitors gained valuable exposure despite exiting early. Miguel Vigario earned recognition for his determined performances in singles and mixed doubles alongside Elme de Villiers, pushing both matches to three sets before falling short.
Day 2 featured several close matches, with four of South Africa’s six losses coming in three-set encounters. Scholtz exited in the quarterfinals of the women’s singles, but she and Ackerman bounced back with their doubles success. Additionally, Scholtz and Caden Kakora progressed to the mixed doubles semi-finals.
Deidre Jordaan and Ackerman also impressed, overcoming the second-seeded Algerian pair in the quarter-finals with an 18-21, 21-6, 21-12 victory. In mixed doubles, Jarred Elliott and Ackerman fought back to defeat their Ugandan opponents 17-21, 21-19, 21-10.
Robert Summers pushed the second seed in men’s singles to three sets before bowing out 16-21, 21-19, 21-18, while Ackerman also put up a strong effort in the women’s singles against the top seed, taking the match to three sets (19-21, 21-8, 21-14). Jordaan reached the quarter-finals before narrowly losing 21-19, 21-18.
A Promising Tournament for South Africa
While the Women’s Doubles gold was the highlight, the tournament provided valuable experience for the squad. Several players displayed promising performances, showing competitiveness against top-ranked opponents.
Looking ahead, the team will aim to build on their progress and further establish themselves in African badminton.
Final Word
Scholtz and Ackerman’s gold medal win underscores South Africa’s strength in the women’s doubles category. The team now turns its focus to future competitions, eager to continue their growth and performance on the international stage.
For More South African Sport News: Sport South Africa Home Page
For More South African Badminton News:
South Africa Off to a Strong Start at All Africa Badminton Mixed Team Championships
Johanita Scholtz: From Childhood Passion to African Badminton Champion and Olympian
