Trinity Sports Scholarship Students Head for Commonwealth Games

Posted on: 22 July 2014

Trinity Sports Scholarship students, Victoria Mullin (Air Pistol) and Prakash Vijayanath (Badminton) will represent their countries in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where thousands of athletes from over 70 countries will compete in 17 sports, across 14 venues from 23rd July to 3rd August.

Second year PhD Genetics student and active member of DU Rifle Club, Victoria, will be part of Team England in the sport of Air Pistol competing against top shooting nations including India, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.  Victoria has been competing in the sport of Air Pistol Shooting for ten years.  She has represented Great Britain internationally numerous times, including the 2008 Junior Commonwealth Games in India and the multi-sport 2011 World University Games in China.  Victoria cites her participation in the London 2012 World Cup as her career highlight to date, when she finished as the top British Female. 

Speaking of her aspirations for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Victoria commented: ‘I will be focused on the initial group stages and if I perform to the best of my ability, a place in the top eight is achievable. ‘

Representing his native South Africa, 1st year Computer Science and Business student, Prakash, will pitch his talents against some of the world’s leading badminton competitors, including Malaysia and India. Since arriving in Dublin last year, Prakash has based himself at Badminton Ireland’s headquarters in Marino Institute of Education and trains there with Ireland’s High Performance squad.  Originally from Johannesburg, Prakash took up the sport of Badminton only five years ago in his local Wanderers Club and his many achievements to date include his National Senior Championship title and silver medal in the All African Championships. Prakash will be joined by his South African team mates in Dublin to continue squad preparation in advance of their departure to Glasgow. 

‘The Commonwealth Games is my first multi-sport event experience so I will be using it as a learning curve,’ said Prakash. ‘I am looking forward to playing against the best in the world and savouring the atmosphere of an event that includes global superstars such as Usian Bolt.’

‘Yet again Trinity is proud to recognise and support the achievements of top student athletes on a world stage,’ stated Trinity’s Head of Sport, Michelle Tanner. ‘Victoria and Prakash are role models for sport in the College and their selection for Commonwealth Games is testament to their talent, dedication and hard work, alongside their academic commitments.  I cannot emphasis enough the high calibre of both students in their respective sport and on behalf of Trinity I wish them every success and a great sporting experience.’

Victoria will compete in Air Pistol on 25 July and Sport Pistol on 26 July at the Barry Budden Shooting Centre, Dundee, whilst Prakash will participate from 24 July in the Badminton competition that is being held on purpose built courts at the Emirates Stadium in Glasgow.