WEEKEND TWO WRAP UP
?The 2021 BODYARMOR State Games summer events picked up this weekend with Badminton, Adult Ice Hockey, Disc Golf, Fencing, Adult Lacrosse, BMX, Table Tennis & another Youth Baseball taking place all over the Raleigh-Durham area.
Thank you to everyone who participated, and CONGRATULATIONS to all of our medal winners!
Visit the link below to check out this weekend’s results and get a glimpse of some of the schedules for our upcoming events!
FEATURED ATHLETE – LEE READING
71-year-old Lee Reading won a gold medal on Saturday at Diavolo Disc Golf Course in Cary.
Disc golf has taken the Black Mountain resident as far away as Australia and New Zealand, but his love of the game is what keeps him playing.
“I started playing disc golf when I was 57,” said Reading.
Reading started playing with his nephew and pro disc golfer Jay “Yeti” Reading.
“We spent a Thanksgiving together and he invited me to go play disc golf with him,” said Reading. “I’ve been in love with the game ever since.”
In Reading’s short disc golf career, he has won 40 Professional Disc Golf Association tournaments.
This is Reading’s second time competing at the State Games.
“I came back for the opportunity to play this course which I’ve heard so much about,” said Reading.
The Diavolo Disc Golf Course is ranked the 7th best course in the world.
FEATURED ATHLETE – SHLOK RAMCHANDRAN
Former professional badminton player, Shlok Ramchandran, won a gold medal in advanced men’s doubles this past weekend. He has won gold medals on four continents, but this was his first amateur medal since he turned pro.
The 26-year-old started playing badminton when he was eight years old in his hometown of Mumbai, India. Since then, he has won 112 tournaments and has been ranked as high as the 32nd best doubles player in the world.
“Honestly, I started playing just to escape homework,” said Ramchandran. “I kept playing because it gave me a direction and a goal to worked toward.”
Ramchandran challenges anyone who does not think badminton is a sport to watch it live before passing judgment.
“You need to watch it live,” said Ramchandran. “I invite anyone who thinks it is a backyard sport to come watch me play live. Badminton is the fastest racquet sport in the world.”
Ramchandran encourages people of all ages to start playing badminton now.
“It is a fun sport,” said Ramchandran. “Just pick up the racquet and play. You are either going to love it or hate it, but most people love it.”
Ramachandran was excited to see firsthand how much the sport has grown in the United States.
“The State Games is an example of how much badminton has grown in the United States in the past couple of years,” said Ramchandran. “This tournament is a really encouraging sign for the future. I’m excited to see where it is at by the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Some of the kids playing here today might be in it. ”
Ramachandran stepped away from professional badminton in February of 2020 just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was ranked the 50th best doubles player in the world. He is currently the Co-host of The Millennial Athlete, a podcast that can be found on IVM Podcasts.
LOOKING AHEAD…
We’ve still got lots of action up coming up this summer! Check out the Calendar of Events for a full list of what’s going on and where. This week’s line-up includes:
High School Lacrosse @ Durham County Stadium
Youth Ice Hockey @ Polar Ice House Wake Forest & Wake Competition Center
Esports (Virtual Event)
Karate @ Raleigh Convention Center
Taekwondo @ Raleigh Convention Center
Pickleball @ Cary Tennis Park
Ninja @ Rock Solid Warrior & Warrior Tech OCR-Morrisville
High School Soccer @ WakeMed Soccer Park
Youth Soccer @ Middle Creek Park, Ting Park, & Womble Park
Youth Softball @ Middle Creek Park
Swimming @ Traingle Aquatic Center
Mountain Bike @ Lake Crabtee