Aspiring tennis star Laura Feely - who is sponsored by Island-based pharmaceutical company PPP - won a bronze medal at the recent NatWest Island Games in the Isle of Wight. The games involved 25 Islands from around the world and this year attracted more the 4,000 competitors for a week of competition in 15 sports. Laura - who retained her title as Isle of Man Closed Tennis champion in April - earned her bronze medal in the women’s tennis team event. The Isle of Man squad was up against teams from nine other Islands with the competition based on two best of three sets singles matches and one best of three sets doubles match. In the opening round the Isle of Man had a bye and then beat the host nation Isle of Wight 2-1 in the quarter-finals, with Laura winning her singles match in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. She also won her semi-final singles match 6-0, 6-1 but the Isle of Man lost the contest 2-1 to Gibraltar with Laura and her doubles partner Karen Faragher narrowly losing in a three set thriller which finished 4-6, 6-2, 7-10. The Isle of Man won 2-1 in their bronze medal play-off match against Bermuda. Laura lost her singles match 2-6, 6-4, 6-10 but the talented teenager bounced back in the doubles match as she and her partner Karen Faragher won 6-1, 6-3. In the NatWest Island Games women’s singles tournament Laura won 6-0, 6-0 against Carroll Reid of the Cayman Islands in the opening round of 32. In the next round Laura again won in straight sets taking the match 6-0, 6-3 against Reegan Greenwood of the Isle of Wight. Laura lost 5-7, 6-7 to Rebeca Molero of Menorca in the quarter-finals. Laura said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my first Island games and it was great to meet other players from various islands. The schedule was tough, as I played in both team and individual events. I am now looking forward to competing in the UK in the summer where again I will be representing the Isle of Man in the Ladies County Cup at the end of July as well as playing in the British Tour events.” Matthew McSevney, General Manager of PPP, congratulated Laura on her medal and said that as always she had represented the Island with distinction. - ENDS -