A YOUNG Hampshire badminton player has shown she’s a force to be reckoned with, consistently winning medals in international tournaments.
Elsa Mitchell, 12, has been busy on the court this year. The Toynbee School pupil from Valley Park, Chandler’s Ford, came second in the girl’s doubles at the under-13 English Badminton National Championships last month.
Internationally, Elsa won a bronze medal in France in the summer in the under-13 tournament in Bordeaux and a silver medal for singles in Poland in November.
Two years on from when her older sister, Maria, took the singles title in Estonia in the under-15 age group, Elsa came home on Sunday, December 10 with two gold medals in the girl's singles and mixed doubles.
READ MORE: International success for Valley Park teen
Maria is Elsa’s inspiration in badminton and school.
Although badminton is her passion, Elsa is a keen footballer too, competing for the Hiltingbury Hurricainesses.
She has been supported by Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council and is part of the Hampshire Talented Athletes Scheme.
Elsa trains at Valley Park Badminton Club with coach Mark Peckham.
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