Staples Student is State U16 Badminton Champ

Westport’s Xiaotian Zhang (2nd r), 16, a Staples High School student, was the U16 boys singles winner Saturday at the 2014 Connecticut Badminton Association Junior Badminton Championships in Simsbury. Xiaotian has been playing since age 7 when his dad rallied with him in the backyard. To pursue his interest, he has received coaching in Shanghai, China in middle school and over the summer and winter vacations in high school. He says he is proud to be playing one of the fastest sports in the world in which the shuttlecock can reach speeds up to 306 mph. With him are (l-r) consolation winner Desmond Lau (Norwalk), finalist Bradli Cheng (Weston), and third place winner Daniel Montanez (Fairfield).  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo