28 June, 2023
Team GB’s badminton squad enjoyed another successful day of action in Krakow, as qualification to the knockout stages was sealed for four individuals or pairs.
Kirsty Gilmour was the first to ensure she would take to the court again, as she beat home favourite Wiktoria Dabczynska 21-9 21-12 to top her group in style with three wins from three and +63 points difference.
And the fifth seed was pleased with her approach to her opening three games ahead of Thursday’s round of 16 contest.
“Our objective in the group games was go out, be strong and do all the things we are looking to do later on, right now,” said Gilmour.
“Do it from the start, let’s not go in and mess around. Let’s go in, be professional and nail all our tactics and objectives so it’s a habit going forward.
“I am really happy with how we have sealed off these three.”
Ben Lane and Sean Vendy also continued their 100% record with a comprehensive 21-10 21-6 win over Giovanni Greco and David Salutt.
The defending champions also made swift work of their opponents, wrapping up proceedings in 27 minutes as they tuned up for their quarter-final contest, where victory will guarantee a medal.
They will be joined in the knockouts by Alexander Dunn and Adam Hall despite the pair losing 11-21 24-22 21-19 to Polish pair Milosz Bochat and Robert Cybulski.
Dunn and Hall earned an impressive win over Christo and Toma Junior Popov to ensure they would qualify from Group D and pipped the French pair to top spot on points difference.
“We need to give credit to the Polish boys, they played a very good two sets. We dropped our level considerably but they put pressure on us,” said Hall.
“One bad day doesn’t two good days before that and we are still in the quarter-finals. We need to pick ourselves up and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
While Dunn and Hall had already ensured their progression, victory was more crucial for Julie MacPherson and Ciara Torrance in the women’s doubles after defeat to second seeds Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygesen.
But the pair stepped up to the plate to beat Martina Corsini and Judith Mair 21-11 21-14 to ensure they went through as runners-up in Group B.
Johnnie Torjussen earned his first win of the Games with a 22-20 21-17 win over Milan Dratva, but victory was not enough to earn progression to the last 16 after two earlier defeats in Group D.
