England’s Elizabeth Cann has been playing badminton like a mad woman this past week and she saved her best till last as she scooped bronze in the individual event. Cann overpowered Scotland’s Susan Egelstaff in a match that will be all the sweeter having lost out in the same match to the Scot in Melbourne four years ago.
Egelstaff came out on top last week in the team quarter finals but today it was Cann’s turn to shine and take home that all important medal. It wasn’t all plain sailing, however, as she trailed 13-6 in the opener before clawing her way back up the level at 17-17, only letting the Scot take one more point before she polished off a 21-18.
The second game was level pegging until 13-13 when Cann piled on the pressure and with a five point bust, pushed into the lead. From then on, there was no stopping her as she produced one of the best wins of her career.
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Related stories:
Delhi 2010: Day nine at the Commonwealth Games
Badminton: Cann wins fourth title after epic
Badminton star Jenny Wallwork talks the talk ahead of Commonwealths
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
English National champions, Jenny Wallwork and Gabby White, just missed out on the bronze medal when they took on Kate Wilson-Smith and Tang He Tian of Australia. The pair came back from 18-15 down in the first game, saving two game points before edging forward to take the game, 23-21.
The Australians were quick to fight back and took the second game to force a decider. The England pair started well, leading 7-3 before running into trouble as their opponents surged back with a run of 11 points out of 12. Wallwork and White fought hard but were unable to turn the tables and had to settle for a disappointing fourth place.
Wallwork is back in action tomorrow when she teams up with Nathan Robertson to fight for the gold medal against Malaysian duo, Koo Kien Keat and Chin Eei Hui.
Kirsty Page, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
