GWENT'S Welsh badminton international Robyn Ashworth has returned from a successful time at the Norwegian Open.

Ashworth, from Llanvaches, who has recently been accepted into the Elite Cymru scheme, reached the quarter-finals of the mixed-doubles with Matthew Hughes, where they were beaten by the eventual finalists from Sweden.

Playing with her women's doubles partner, Cardiff-based Kate Ridler, Ashworth, 20, went out at the first round stage to a strong Spanish pair, but the Welsh shuttlers will be hoping for more luck at next weekend's Scottish Open.

The next few weeks will be busy for Ashworth as she is due to take part in the Welsh and Irish Open tournaments.

A student on an industrial placement, Ashworth said she was delighted to have been included on the Elite Cymru scheme and admitted the extra money helped ease the financial pressure of travelling to competitions.

She was included in the scheme after a successful season which resulted in her being named Welsh badminton player of the year and saw her compete in the World Championships.