Perthshire badminton players enjoy memorable trip to Estonian city of Tartu and look forward to reverse fixture

A team of 20 shuttle stars from Crieff Badminton Club and Glenearn Badminton Club - and three friends of the clubs - have returned from a five-night trip in Estonia.

The purpose of the adventure was to take on players from Triiton Badminton Club.

Triiton is based in the city of Tartu, Estonia’s second largest city, which is set to be European capital of culture 2024.

The team from Perthshire was hugely impressed by Triiton Badminton Club.

The club was founded in 1999, has over 600 members and has produced a number of national and international players.

It has a team of top coaches, led by head coach Mart Siliksaar who is the multiple times national champion.

The top junior players from the Estonian club proved to be a tough challenge for the visitors from Scotland on the first night of badminton, with most games won by the home side.

The Scots then played adult players from Triiton on the second night, ahead of the tournament between the two teams on Saturday morning and afternoon.

While the games were closely contested, it was the Estonian club that secured victory by 28 games to 13.

It was not all badminton, though, with the travelling contingent finding plenty of time for sightseeing and enjoying Tartu hospitality!

A “fantastic time was had by all” and the local clubs are already looking forward to welcoming Triiton players to Scotland.

Ross Paterson, president of Perth and District Badminton Association, told the PA: “We’d been discussing an overseas badminton trip for some time until earlier this year, Hellevi Walker of Crieff Badminton Club took the lead in planning a group trip to her homeland.

“We had a wonderful time in the beautiful Estonian city of Tartu and received a very warm welcome from Triiton Badminton