Comments from ParalympicsGB badminton players after the evening session.
Jack Shephard and Rachel Choong were beaten 11-21 7-21 by China’s Lin Naili and Li Fengmei in Group A of the SH6 mixed doubles in a match which finished after 1am (CET). They exit at the group stage but both are still in singles competitions (see quotes relating to those matches below).
Jack Shephard
Age: 27
Hometown: Chesterfield
On the result:
“It was a tough match. The Chinese pair were really strong today. It was tough to prepare, we did our best. It’s late at night, a lot of the crowd had gone. I thought we had good patches where we played really well but we didn’t bring a strong enough game to win.”
On the support:
“We can’t thank our families and friends enough for staying out this late. We have some elderly family with us who shouldn’t be up this late! They know how hard Rachel and I have worked over this last three years to get here, as soon as SH6 mixed doubles was announced as part of the programme. For them to stick it out and watch us means a lot.”
Rachel Choong
Age: 30
Hometown: Liverpool
On the match:
“We had singles only a few hours earlier and both of them went to three games. We knew it would be tough, three of the four mixed doubles pairs in the world are in one group. We are disappointed we couldn’t get a win on the board but we’ll reflect on it and there is always room to improve. We know what we need to do to get closer to them.”
Krysten Coombs
Result: Beat Indonesia’s Subhan Subhan 21-15, 17-21, 21-18 in Group A of the SH6 men’s singles. He plays India’s Sivarajan Solaimalai in his final group match on Saturday.
Age: 33
Hometown: Totnes
On bouncing back from an opening day defeat:
“A bit tougher today than yesterday but that’s the sport and it can’t be easy every day. We had a great battle out there and he put up a great fight which is what you want at the Paralympics. These are the best athletes in the world so you’re not going to come here and have little easy walkovers.
“I believed in myself, which is the big one, then I can win. That has given my confidence a big boost going into tomorrow and the rest of the tournament. I might be one of the older players here but I’m still fighting the younger ones.”
Rachel Choong
Result: Beat Peru’s Rubi Milagros Fernandez Vargas 14-21, 21-19, 21-17 in her SH6 women’s singles Group B opener. Plays Poland’s Oliwia Szmigiel in her final group game on Saturday.
Age: 30
Hometown: Liverpool
On the match:
“My first singles match at a Paralympics and the nerves were there. That was visible. I didn’t settle as quickly as I wanted to but I knew going into the match it would be a scrap, they normally are when I play Rubi. It wasn’t my prettiest badminton but I’m really pleased to be on the winning end of it.”
On the Paralympic experience:
“I can see why people dedicate four years of their lives to get here. For badminton, as Europeans, we are not used to playing in front of thousands of people - it’s a couple of hundred at most, at times. I’m so pleased to go out here, represent ParalympicsGB and try my hardest to put in good performances. I want to come away with no regrets.”
Jack Shephard
Result: Beat Brazil’s Vitor Tavares 21-19, 15-21, 21-19 in his second SH6 men’s singles Group C match. Plays France’s Charles Noakes on Saturday.
Age: 27
Hometown: Chesterfield
On the win:
“I’m ecstatic, I just played one of the best games of my life. It wasn’t perfect but it was enough to get over the line. There are things we can move forward with but it puts me in a good place to get through the group, so I’m very happy with that.”
On his support network:
“We have an amazing team. Without that, it would be a struggle. Having staff around me today has helped me settle my nerves, it is a long time to wait all day. You have things to do like your nutrition, sleeping during the day to keep yourself fresh, but we managed it really well and that showed in the performance.
“There are so many family and friends out there and I can’t thank them enough for coming, it really helped me over the line. It was fantastic having a crowd like that to bounce off.”
Comments