New Zealand Juniors Markis Tew and Raphael Deloy have claimed victory in Europe, winning the Men's Doubles final at the Slovakia Junior International Series in Trenčín.
The Kiwi pair, who have been competing together internationally since 2023, achieved this important milestone on Sunday, with a 21-13 21-19 win against second seeds Kryštof Coufal / Filip Titěra of the Czech Republic. They performed strongly throughout the tournament, winning all matches in straight games, while Deloy also reached the semi-finals of Men's Singles.
Tew reflected on their win. "I’m feeling a mix of exhilaration and relief. Winning the tournament after all the hard work and dedication is an overwhelming feeling. There’s also a sense of pride in knowing that we performed well under pressure."
Deloy adds, "I felt excited throughout the match and filled with adrenaline. This successful outcome has made me realise how much more I can become and what I can do to help myself improve."
The pair flew to the London immediately after the presentations, on their way to Cardiff to compete in the YONEX Welsh International Open this week. Before the year ends, they'll both compete in Thailand and Nepal as well.
With an eye on the Olympics, both Tew and Deloy recognise that there is a long journey ahead. Tew says they're ready to put in the work. "The journey will require us to continue training and improving our skills, as well as playing against stronger opposition."
"We will have to start slow and work our way to the top - with hard word and dedication, anything is possible," concludes Deloy.