C’WEALTH GAMES SF – Singapore sling two into finals

Michelle Li beats Sindhu twice in seven days to set up a final against Kirsty Gilmour, who won 10 straight points to get past her team quarter tormentor, Tee Jing Yi. England ensured both gold and silver in the mixed match, but Singapore impressed most as Wong and Chrisnanta/Triyachart fought hard to make the finals, a first for the city state.

By Michael Burke, Badzine Correspondent, live from Glasgow.  Photos: Yohan Nonotte for Badmintonphoto (live).

The day started as the Adcocks dispelled any doubts as they came past a slow Blair / Bankier, however it was Chris Langridge and Heather Olver (pictured left) who fought hardest to get past Chan / Lai to set up the all English final.

Some amateur officiating from the umpire marred the match but thankfully none of the decisions impacted particularly on the result of the games. In the mix of all this, the English lost a close second game as their nerves forced the match into a third.

“The best thing we did was at the start of the third, as you could say we probably threw the second set away. You could see their heads fell when we got a big lead.” Chris said after.

“At the end of the second I was thinking, you’re nearly there and you want it too much. Then you play the wrong shots at the wrong time, you can’t think clearly.” Olver added.

Lai Pei Jing was not happy after the match however, upset particularly over a call at the end of the second game, which they should have won 21-19.

“Everyone could see it was a touch, they knew it, it was our point. But if the umpire gives it we can’t say anything. Since yesterday we both played two matches, so I’m very tired now, I’ve not had much rest. I think it’s unfair we are playing so early as we finished late.” Said Lai.

Kasyap Parupalli (pictured right), who reversed his team performance against England’s Ouseph, talked of his matches in Delhi as unwelcome flashbacks in his game.

“There were some very controversial line calls. They were absolutely crazy; I don’t know what the line judges were doing today. I lost last time because of a bad line call so it definitely played on my mind.” Said Kashyap.

He was also critical of the scheduling, adding, “The order of the team championships was ridiculous, it’s never that order. There have been a lot of things favouring the English this tournament, orders, draws, line calls. It’s absolutely crazy, so much in their favour.”

Singapore made it two out of two as Derek Wong (pictured left) surpassed the achievements of his father, Won Shoon Keat, in the Commonwealth Games as he beat India’s R.V. Gurusaidutt.

“The bronze medal [in the team event] was a stepping stone to prepare, but the thing that really motivated me was that I don’t want to play again tonight, I want to rest and play tomorrow.” Wong said with a beaming smile.

Chrisnanta and Triyachart took inspiration from his performance to came through a tough match against Langridge and Mills and will face Goh / Tan in the final, who beat the other top seeded English pair, who have looked increasingly tired as the tournament went on.

The women’s singles final will be intense, as home favourite Kirsty Gilmour (pictured right) managed a run of ten straight points to take the match against Tee, to whom she lost heavily in the team competition.

“Amazing, for a writing student it’s a bit silly that I can’t find the words. I just can’t explain it. I planned in my head for it to go like this.” Said Kirsty Gilmour

She will face Michelle Li (pictured left), who has been in a rich vein of form, beating P.V. Sindhu for the second time this championships.

“In the team stage I proved I could play with her and beat her, but I didn’t take it as a guarantee, I knew it would be a very tight match. I was really nervous yesterday; I forgot the meaning of why I play. Today I came out and played every point for my own pleasure. Now I’m gonna go celebrate with my team!” Said Michelle Li

“I just had to relax, enjoy every point and play with no fear. It means a lot as it’s been a while since Badminton Canada won I medal, 1994 I think. It’s kind of a motivation that I’m the only player from the Americas left, I take it as a challenge.” She added.

The full results for the day can be found here.