ENGINEERING PROFESSOR WINS NATIONAL BADMINTON TITLE

Sacharia Albin, professor and graduate program director of electrical and computer engineering at Old Dominion University, won the gold medal in the badminton doubles category at the 2007 Summer National Senior Games held in Louisville, Ky.

Albin, who partnered with Boris Rishko of Richmond, beat the number one seed in the finals to take the medal.

The National Senior Games Association is a nonprofit member of the United States Olympic Committee dedicated to motivating senior men and women to lead a healthy lifestyle through the senior games movement. The summer games are the largest multi-sport event in the world for seniors.

Albin, who represented Virginia in the event, lost in the singles category in the third round to the eventual winner and number one seed from Maryland. It was his second year representing the state. Last year he won both singles and doubles in the Virginia Games to qualify for the Nationals.

Albin, who plays regularly at Princess Ann and Kempsville recreation centers in Virginia Beach and at Warwick high school, hopes to start a Badminton Club at Old Dominion and provide coaching to prospective players.