European Games: Day five round-up
Team GB’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy will go for European Games gold on Saturday after a stylish display saw them reach Saturday’s final in Krakow.
The second seeds are still yet to drop a game at the event, easing past French duo Toma Junior and Christo Popov 21-15 21-14 to reach the final
A huge well done to Adam Dunn and Alexander Hall who will bring home a bronze medal, after they were defeated in a tricky semi-final.
The pair were beaten 21-13 16-21 21-10 by Danish top seeds Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, who will now face Lane and Vendy in a blockbuster final.
Alex gave us his post after reaction: “Unfortunately disappointed, we didn’t come here for bronze we came here for gold. I thought our form was more than capable of getting the gold, and obviously a very tough match today they are the favourites to win so it’s not as if we let ourselves down but yeah I think we wanted more –especially coming off that comeback in the second set and that momentum we didn’t really capitalise in the third, so yeah disappointed.
“We’re in I guess the middle of an Olympic qualifying year, and we’ve actually got a bit of a break now which is needed coming off the back of four weeks in Asia before this so it’s been a really busy period. We’ll go back, rest up and have world champs in seven weeks I believe and that’s a very big part of the calendar so we want to perform well there”.
Kirsty Gilmour fought back over 3 sets to secure her place in the semi-finals of the women’s singles, as she got past third seed Line Hoejmark Kjaersfeldt 16-21 21-11 21-19 to guarantee herself a medal.
Gilmour found herself a game down but hauled herself back into the contest to clinch the second game before edging out the third to set up a final four fixture with Spain’s top seed Carolina Marin.
“That was one word – tough!” said Gilmour. “Yesterday I’m not going to lie I was really nervous, more nervous than I’ve felt in a long time.
“I think yesterday’s game to some people may seem a bit shaky but to me it was like a calming down and that put me in a good place to absolutely know I could battle through this one.
“I played some really good badminton today, I figured out a lot of things and I touched a level that I don’t think I’ve touched consistently for a long time. I’m so happy to come through that one and just never count me out.”
There was also victory in the mixed doubles for defending champions Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith after they beat home duo Pawel Smilowski and Magdalena Swierczynska 21-8 21-16.
The pair have now guaranteed themselves at least a bronze medal, but will fight for a chance to earn gold or silver against France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue on Saturday.
All photo credits belong to Team GB