Three Gold Medals for Nikki Welch at Mayflower Games

Cornish badminton star Nikki Welch celebrates major wins and a new training boost

Badminton player Nikki Welch, 31, from Pensilva near Liskeard, has won three gold medals at The Mayflower Games in Plymouth.

Held on the 28th and 29th June at the Plymouth Life Centre, the annual event was organised by the Plymouth Mayflower Specials charity.

A Long Career of Success

Nikki has been playing in Special Olympics badminton events for 14 years, collecting an impressive 60 gold, 6 silver and 1 bronze medal along the way.

Her father, Roger Welch, said:

“She has progressed with the help of GLL to become number one in the South West. She has also won gold medals in Cardiff, Swansea, Dublin and Scotland and her ambition is to play international competitions.”

Training Support from GLL

Nikki’s latest win comes in the same week she was awarded training sponsorship from the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF). The support gives her free access to 254 leisure centres across the country, including nine in Cornwall which GLL runs on behalf of Cornwall Council under the Better brand.

Karen Edmond, Community Sport Manager at GLL in Cornwall, said:

“It’s wonderful to see Nikki’s continued badminton success. Winning three golds at one event is an amazing achievement.”

In total, 144 Cornwall-based athletes have received GSF support in 2025, across 23 different sports. The funding totalled £92,150 this year. Of those supported, 72% receive no other central funding, more than half are under the age of 21, 27% are under 16, and 8% live with disabilities.