Medal Matches in 2013 Pickleball Canada National Open Championship

It was so exciting to watch the fantastic play by some of the top players in the world at the National last weekend.  It was great to see Brian Lam from Coquitlam, B.C. win the Bronze again this year in Open Mens Singles.  He is probably one of the top men's Singles players in Canada.  He also won a Gold medal in the Under 55 Mixed Doubles with Mida Postler from Port Moody, B.C.

There were 19 players in Open Men's Singles.  The Open Men's Singles Gold medal matches between Chris Miller and Billy Jacobsen was fantastic to watch, Chris Miller won Gold and defeated the defending Champion Billy who won Gold last year.  Chris lost the first match to Jacobsen after a long hard match. He then came back from the loser's bracket to win a match against Jacobsen.  Then it was the sudden death match between them with their hard hitting rallies, overhead smashes, finicky dink shots.  Three courts were used for the gold medal matches with a referee and 2-4 line judges.  Jacobsen was firing hard shots from left to right so that Chris was diving to return the balls by running onto the other two courts at top speed.  Chris was so exhausted that he was lying on the floor several times to catch his breath.  He finally won the Gold after a long and close final gold medal match that went overtime. 

In the Open Women's Singles, Jennifer Lucore from California won Gold and Darcie Jacobsen from Washington won Silver again this year.  It is great to see more Open Women's Singles players this year.  Joy Leising from Oregon won the Bronze. 

In the Open Women's Doubles, Jennifer Lucore (CA)/Darcie Jacobsen (WA) won Gold, Christine Barksdale (WA)/Kimberley Bennet (OR) won Silver, Luba Zhekhosvkaya and Denis Zhekhovskiy (both from South Surrey, B.C.) won Bronze.

In the Open Men's Doubles, Chris Miller (WA)/Billy Jacobsen (WA) won Gold, Denis Zhekhovskiy (BC) won Silver, Zachary Grubbs (IN)/Josh Grubbs (IN) won Bronze. 

Our local Abbotsford/Chilliwack/Mission players fared very well in the medals gaining 20 medals. 
Congratulations to all the medal winners !!!