Top Marks for outstanding young Tipperary badminton star Luke

Tipperary and Munster Badminton’s rising star Luke Marks, who has won an Annerville sports award, was selected to represent Team Ireland at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Skopje, North Macedonia in July, making him the youngest male badminton player ever to earn a place at the event.

He was also chosen to represent Ireland at the Under 17 European Badminton Championships in Lanzarote.

Luke, who trains six times a week at the Badminton Ireland Elite Academy in Dublin, has become one of Ireland’s top junior players, with over 70 medals earned at national level since age 11.

His relentless commitment, balancing intense training with academic demands as a student at Colaiste Phobal, Roscrea, and long travel from Tipperary, has propelled the teenager onto the international stage.

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The European Youth Olympic Festival is Europe’s largest multi-sports event for young athletes and marks a major step on the Olympic pathway.

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Luke competed in both Boys’ Singles and Mixed Doubles, alongside Dublin’s Hannah Shochan.

During the year he also won the Irish and Munster Under 17 Boys Doubles title; the Under 17 Ulster Open in Lisburn with his partner Jeffrey Rong in the Boys doubles and was runners-up with his partner Hannah Shochan in the Mixed Doubles. Luke also won the Under 17 singles at the Leinster Open.

The Annerville awards, sponsored by Bulmers, will be presented by the Tipperary United Sports Panel at its annual function, which will be held at the Talbot Hotel Clonmel on Saturday night, January 10.

Tickets for the event are available from Sports Panel treasurer Ken Conway, email conwayken@eircom.net