Irish debut for Chambers

Just a few months after he represented Northern Ireland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, things are certainly looking good for the local player.

Inspired by seeing his sister Sinead represent Ireland, Ciaran said seeing his sibling in action for her country helped him to ‘focus’ on what he wanted to do.

“It was probably seeing my sister Sinead make her international debut as a 16-year-old, which really helped me focus on what I wanted to do, to play for Ireland at senior level,” Ciaran commented.

“It has always been a great advantage having Sinead help me along the way both on court as a doubles partner but also as a mentor and this was never more evident to me than when I was playing in my first Commonwealth Games where the experience was just unbelieveable.”

It has been a rollercoaster few years for the 20 year old Ulster Sports Development Assistant, having initially taken up the sport at the tender age of four, principally because of the great family involvement in the sport with father Brian the current Chairman of Alpha Badminton Club.

“In my early years of playing at Alpha I suppose to a degree it was just great playing at Alpha where so many players have come through to win international honours. That is why I am also enjoying being part of the next generation, introducing youngsters to the game in a coaching capacity.

“I can remember well those early formative years in my own badminton development when Ryan Prentice and Ronnie Watt were coaching me and this first cap could not have been possible without the constant support from my mum and dad over the years.”

Ireland face Bulgaria, Norway and Slovakia at the Baldoyne Badminton Centre from November 7-9 with the aim of clinching a place in the European finals in Belgium in February.