Story contributed by Christopher Ong

Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall, September 4, 2008 – Most Primary 6 students spent their one-week September break preparing for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), but not 12-year-olds Donavan Mui and Shanicus Yee.

Instead, the duo were at the Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall, where they were competing in the 2008 Cheers Age-Group (Doubles) Badminton Championships.

They were amongst 179 similarly badminton-passionate kids who are participating in the Under-13 boys and girls categories of the competition, which ran from September 1-6.

Said a cheery Donavan: "We keep a balance between our badminton and studies, and will be going home after our match to study together."

The top-seeded pairing, both junior players of the Singapore Badminton Association, certainly had reason to be happy. They dispatched Bernard Ong and Tee Wei Zhong from Brilliant Generation Badminton 21-11, 21-13, in only 15 minutes.

With their aggressive attacking play and powerful angled smashes, Donavan and Shanicus had their opponents scrambling around the court frantically.

Despite the ease of their win, they paid tribute to their opponents. Explained Shanicus: "Wei Zhong is a real fighter, he does not give up any shots and managed to surprise us with some of his returns."

Modesty aside, the duo have set themselves a target of progressing beyond the semi-final hurdle where they fell last year. And they should, if they can keep playing with the same enthusiasm and gung-ho spirit.

Indeed, the venue may have changed from the historic Singapore Badminton Hall, but judging from the amount of entries (899 total from all categories, a 30 per cent increase from last year) Singaporean youths are just as passionate about the sport.

Or perhaps even more so, looking at Under-13 girls top-seed Chiu Jing Wen and Charlotte Ho, both 12.

The Nanyang Primary School students defeated Priscilla Lee and Yeo Su Xian of Raffles Girls' Primary 21-3, 21-4 in a mere 13 minutes, yet they were far from satisfied.

Said Jing Wen: "We have high expectations of ourselves, and can play better. Hopefully if we are good enough, in two years time we can be selected for the Youth Olympics."