Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Australia continues dream start in Commonwealth Games Badminton



Skybadminton 6th 7th October
courtesy by
AAP
Australia continued its dream start in the badminton, keeping alive its chances of medalling at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
The Australians handed Nigeria a 5-0 beating in the second qualifying round at the Siri Fort Sports Complex on Tuesday, the same flawless scoreline effected against Seychelles in its opening round match.
Then in their second Group A match of the day, Australia handed out a 4-1 beating to the Isle of Man.
Bendigo's Jeff Tho just missed out on maintaining the nation's 100 per cent record when he went down to Joshua Green 21-19 18-21 15-21.
Australia meets top seed Malaysia on Wednesday.
The results were just the tonic Australia needed for their confidence and veteran Kate Wilson-Smith said the team was determined to medal against all odds in the nation versus nation contest.
"We need really good performances from the team if we're going to medal," she told AAP.
"We're going to have to play to our ultimate potential."
Australia is seeded seventh and needs to make the top two of Group A to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Malaysia, the top seed and hot favourite, should finish top of the list but Australia is on track to be runner-up.
For Wilson-Smith, who is competing at her fourth Commonwealth Games, this could be her last Games and wants to add to the bronze she won at the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998.
"I feel the strongest I ever have, which is pretty good for 31 years of age," she said.
"I'm feeling pretty confident."
Australia has two medals to show in badminton - bronze in the women's team event and bronze in the mixed doubles - but failed to deliver four years ago in Melbourne.
But the South Australian is not too concerned about past records.
"The older you get, the more it becomes about the badminton and not everything else.
"This could be a great Games."
Wilson-Smith will compete in the women's and mixed doubles events which begin on October 9.

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