Here is what the European badminton talents had to say on their third day into the Olympics.
Qi Xuefei (FRA) vs Sabrina Jaquet (SUI) 21-10 21-14
- I lost a couple of months due to a (left) knee injury that required surgery, and I was able to get only five weeks of practice, so I'm quite happy with the way I played today. I'm happy to win my first match. In my first match I wasn't feeling good on court. I'm not at 100 per cent. Tomorrow I play Tai Tzu Ying, I'm happy to play her, it's a big match and I will give everything. - Qi
- This was my first match against her, so I didn't know what to expect. It was a disappointing match. My calf got injured a few days ago, at my first training session here. So it was a tough time. So today I felt a bit more ready. Two days ago against Tai Tzu Ying I just couldn't move. My confidence wasn't high and it was tough as I couldn't practice on court last week and I was just trying to get rid of the injury. In the second game today I thought I felt better. It's been difficult for me with the injury, but I did my best today. - Jaquet
Luka Wraber (AUT) vs Kalle Koljonen (FIN) 21-13 21-17
- It took me quite a long time to find my right height and length of the shuttle. I am happy that I did find it and for a short while I could make the score equal and almost pass him, but it hurts that it didn't happen. - Wraber
On his opponent:
- He is technically flawless. He is maybe a little too aggressive but today he was good. And with my play in the first game he was able to execute his game style. - Wraber
On the conditions in the hall:
- I would say that one side is a little faster than the other. First game I was out a lot and second game I was short a bit. - Wraber
Mark Caljouw (NED) – Misha Zilberman (ISR) 17-21 21-9 21-10
On his winning start at the Olympics:
- It was a shaky start at the beginning. I don't think I handled his style in the first game and he played well. But I kept fighting like I always do and I knew that if it was a long match I am more fit. - Caljouw
On Zilberman's victory over Sai Praneeth B (IND) on Day 1:
- It was a surprise but it didn't change much for me. I know I have to win both of my matches to go through. - Caljouw
On the performance:
- I was tired today from the first match. He was more fresh. I tried to go all out in the first game. But he played well and hit all the lines. - Zilberman
On him progressing to the knockout rounds:
- I have to see what happens in two days time and now I will cheer for India. - Zilberman
Marcus Ellis/Lauren Smith (GBR) vs Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA) 21-12 21-19
On their performance:
- Yesterday we said there were a few things to work on and today we came out with a clear mind, was focused, and the pressure was turned up on our opponents. - Ellis
On his experience:
- I am now in my early 30s and I'm one of the older guys but I still feel 21, and I have a lot of experience in these situations and I think it is making a difference when it counts. - Ellis
On the status of the win:
- It's up there. We haven't beaten them before. We've lost to them a few times. So for us to do it on this stage is very important and it makes a big difference going forward. We knew after yesterday that this was a freebie game and that took the pressure off and it was ours to take and theirs to lose and I kept reminding myself of that. – Smith
On whether their relationship is a badminton fairytale:
- Oh no, don’t say that. I might vomit (laughs).
- It would be a nice badminton romance with a few medals around our necks. - Smith
Marks Lamsfuss/Isabel Herttrich (GER) vs Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet (HKG) 22-20 20-22 21-16
On the must win match:
- It was a good match. We both were on the same level. I think we are happy with our performance but disappointed that we are out. It was a big opportunity to win it and get to the quarterfinals. - Lamsfuss
- We had a great comeback to win the second game but unfortunately not in the third. - Herttrich
Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin (TPE) vs Ben Lane/Sean Vendy (GBR) 21-17 21-14
On their results at Tokyo 2020:
- They are a tough pair to beat. We didn't really find our game today, or on Day 1. It's tough to come to such a big event to not find any rhythm, but that is sometimes how it is, particularly against the best pairs. - Lane
On their opponents:
- They don't let you into the point if you play weak shots. They are world No.3 for a reason. They put a lot of pressure on you. - Lane
Qingchen Chen/Jia Yifan (CHN) vs Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva (BUL) 21-18 21-15
After their defeat to the Chinese pair:
- We feel disappointed. We came her to make good results. This is our second Olympics and we wanted to get beyond the group stage, but this won't happen now. We feel very disappointed. - Gabriela Stoeva
On the match:
- I think we made too many easy mistakes and we knew this match was very important for us. We had our chance against the Korean pair too, so we feel very disappointed. I know we need to be at 100%. It's difficult against a top Asian pair. We've been preparing for a tough match. - Stefani Stoeva
Kristin Kuuba (EST) vs Daniela Macias (PER) 21-19 21-13
On her performance:
- I didn’t play my best but I’m happy I took the win in two games, because tomorrow it’s a very strong opponent and I needed to save energy. - Kuuba
- I’m really trying to make the (knockout) from my group, so need to play my best tomorrow. Busanan (Ongbamrungphan) is a top player and I’m going to fight hard. I will try for an upset. - Kuuba
On her training:
- I was training a lot in Denmark, in Peter Gade’s academy. It’s nice sparring and good coaches, and I think it has helped me improve my level. And I also training a lot in Estonia, so I’ve been mixing these two, but I think I’m feeling well at the moment. - Kuuba
Martina Repiska (SVK) vs Nikte Alejandra Sotomayor (GUA) 21-19 21-12
On her win over Sotomoyor:
- I'm really happy I was able to win my first match at the Olympics. I'm really happy with that. - Repiska
On training in Denmark:
- I moved to start training at the Centre of Excellence in Denmark about one year ago and I've been really happy with the training for the Olympics. The training was really hard and I really liked the conditions there. I'd been living in Denmark before the move and decided to move there before the Olympics. - Repiska
Nhat Nguyen (IRL) VS Niluka Karunaratne (SRI) 21-16 21-14
On his over over Karunaratne:
- I'm happy. I think I was a little nervous but once I got the first game I shook off the nerves and was able to apply my tactics and hit to his forehand corner. The tactics worked well for me in the second. - Nguyen
On playing at the Olympics:
- Of course it's the Olympics, I want to give it my all and for every single point. Before I went on court I told myself: 'Leave 100% on court - lose or win.' And the results show. For me I'm here to make my parents and my family proud. My parents have sacrificed a lot for myself and my sisters so just to be able to win and perform at the Olympics, I think my parents will be proud. That's what spurred me on. - Nguyen