Ace Lydia nets Six Nations call-up

Lydia Powell is poised to win her first international ‘cap’ after being selected by Badminton England for a prestigious tournament later this month.
Lydia PowellLydia Powell
Lydia Powell

The Hastings-based teenage talent is one of six girls in the squad for the U17 Six Nations event in Papendal, Holland, from April 25-28.

She said: “I said in September that this was the one I wanted to aim to get selected for. I was away at the ICT with Sussex when I found out and it was a really good feeling.

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“I was confident that I was going to get selected - I’ve been thinking really positively - but it’s so hard to break in because these girls I’m playing with have been selected for a long time.”

Lydia, who will celebrate her 17th birthday next Thursday, feels the call-up is a reward for the hard work and progress she has made during what could turn out to be a watershed season.

“I feel like I’ve come on a lot,” continued Lydia, who will be up against players from the likes of Germany, Holland, Denmark and France. “I’ve changed the way I play and the person I am. I’ve matured.”

The Parkwood 6th form student has already played in Holland once this year having competed in the under-19 age group at the Dutch Junior Tournament in Haarlem at the end of February.

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Lydia won two silvers and a bronze at the U17 Nationals, yet was disappointed with her medal haul. “I didn’t do what I hoped to do and what was possible to do,” she said. “I could’ve got two golds and a silver so I was really disappointed.”