Defending men’s singles champion Rajiv Ouseph was slow out of the blocks today in his quarter final against Lucas Corvee of France. Ouseph, a little sluggish after a day off yesterday, lost the first set 21-16 before coming back to seal the win with a 21-11 win in the deciding set.
-I started off today very slow and really gave Lucas to many opportunities that he probably did not really have to work for. After loosing the open set I knew I just needed to step on the accelerator and up the tempo as I also knew he had a really long and tough match yesterday.
Speaking of the demands on coming back to defend his title Ouseph was frank in his appraisal.
-It is a very different feeling coming back as defending champion. I have put some pressure on myself as the champion and of course I want to defend that title from last year. Tomorrow I play Jan (O Jorgensen) and he is also a former champion and worlds top player. I need to come ready and prepared for that match.
First men’s singles medal secured for France
Brice Leverdez (pictured above) created some personal and French badminton history in beating Nick Fransman to guarantee a minimum of bronze medal in the men’s singles. A first medal for the Frenchman who is playing the best badminton of his career post Rio. It is also a first for a French men’s singles and Leverdez is certainly proud of that achievement.
-You know this is a proud moment for me, my coach and my country. We are in this together and achieving this is a big dream for me but there is still more work to do and I need to come back tomorrow and be ready for a fight against the best player in the world.