BADMINTON: A team of six Australian Badminton players competed at the Badminton World Federation World Championships held in Jakarta, Indonesia this week, with only one team advancing to the second round.
Australian athletes competed in the men’s and women’s singles events, as well as the mixed and men’s doubles.
Joy Lai was the first of the Australian's to take the court on day one, facing off against Yip Pui Yin of Hong Kong in the Women’s singles. Lai went down 11- 21, 12-21 against the 27th seed.
A strong win by Leanne Choo and Robin Middleton in the Mixed doubles was the highlight for the Aussie contingent on day one of World Championships. Choo and Middleton defeated Canadian pair, Kevin Li and Rachel Honderich 21-9, 21-17, advancing to the second round.
Sawan Serasinghe and Matt Chau faced a tough Canadian team of Adrian Liu and Derrick
Ng in the men’s doubles, suffering a loss after a slow start 6-21 but a close second game of 23 – 25.
On Day 2 of competition, Michael Fariman played his first round in the Men’s singles, unfortunately drawing the 3rd ranked seed Kidambi Srikanth of India. Fariman put up a good fight, going down 10-21, 13-21.
Mixed pair of Choo and Middleton advanced to round 2, but unfortunately lost to Indonesian No. 11 seeded pair, 9-21, 12-21.
The Aussies will now return home to prepare for next month’s Oceania Badminton tournaments in Auckland, Maribyrnong and Sydney.
olympics.com.au
