BADMINTON: After the single’s group stage wrapped up for the Aussies at the second summer Youth Olympics (YOG) in Nanjing, the focus now shifts to the mixed doubles, where our athletes will be hoping to keep their medals hopes alive.
BADMINTON: After the single’s group stage wrapped up for the Aussies at the second summer Youth Olympics (YOG) in Nanjing, the focus now shifts to the mixed doubles, where our athletes will be hoping to keep their medals hopes alive.
In today's matches Daniel Guda was put to the test in his third match at the YOG, he clashed with Bulgarian, Vladimir Shishkov. Guda started strong in the first set and challenged the tenacious Bulgarian but dropped the first set 21-18.
“I was able to produce a tactic, the right tactic, but then I kind of lost focus in some of the points. I would get three points where I use the tactic, but then I would lose focus and then lose three or four points in a row,” the New South Welshman said.
The second set was on a knifes edge the entire time, at 17-13 to Shishkov, Guda put together consecutive points to tie the set at 18-18.
Guda was unlucky on a few crucial points, resulting in the Bulgarian taking out the second set and the match 21-18 21-19.
Later this evening, Guda teams up with Indonesian, Ruselli Hartawan to take on Mek Marongrit of Thialand and Jinjing Qui of China in the second game of the mixed doubles
“Tonight’s match will be a lot tougher, two powerhouse countries mixed up together so it’ll be really tough, but anything’s possible,” he said.
“I’m hopeful I can do well in mixed. Hopefully I can get out of the group stage. We’ll see what happens.”
In an earlier match in today’s play, Victorian, Joy Lai notched up her first group stage win.
Lai was unfortunate not to get a win in her first two group matches but the 16-year-old comfortably dismissed Poland’s Magda Konieczna in straight sets.
The youngster was pushed all the way in the first set, but was able to capitalise on some crucial points, edging out her opponent 21-17.
Lai then showed dominance in the second set, breezing through 21-4.
The day is not quite over for Lai, she teams up with Chin’s Yugi Shi to take on Ygor Coelho de Oliveira from Brazil and Vladyslava Lisna of the Ukraine.
To date, both Guda and Lai have won one and lost two of their singles group matches, meaning they will not progress to the quarter finals.
Sam Rawlings
Olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam
