World champions crashed out and Brazil's Ygor makes history
Xinhua, August 14, 2016 Adjust font size:
World champions Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan were crashed out in Saturday's badminton group match at the Rio Olympic Games, while Brazilian favela boy Ygor Coelho de Oliveira made history at the Olympic stage.
Under the huge support for him inside Riocentro Pavillion 4, Ygor lost 8-21, 21-19, 8-21 to Scott Evans from Ireland in their men's singles group K match. However he became the first Brazilian man ever to compete in the Olympics in the sport.
"I think believe in your dreams because your dreams can come true. I came from a favela and now I am in the Olympics and if I can, why can't they do it also? So I think (you should) believe in your dreams," said Ygor.
In a must-win situation in their final men's doubles group D match against China's Chai Biao and Hong Wei, Indonesians Ahsan and Setiawan delivered an underwhelming performance, crashing out in straight games: 21-15, 21-17. The Chinese pair entered the top eight ranking second in the group.
The competition saw another surprise, with China's Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan falling in three games to Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong to finish second in group C behind the Malaysians.
In a do-or-die battle match in mixed doubles group B, London Olympics runners-up Xu Chen and Ma Jin came from behind to beat London bronze medallists Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen of Denmark 22-24, 21-14, 21-16.
Mix doubles' reigning champions Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei claimed three consecutive victories to top group A by defeating Indonesia's Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto 21-11, 21-18.
In women's doubles, South Korea's Chang Ye Na and Lee So Hee earned a hard-fought win over second seeds Tang Yuanting/Yu Yang from China to finish group D victors. Tang and Yu ranked the second place.
China's Luo Ying/Luo Yu beat the United States' Eva Lee/Paula Lynn Obanana for their second group win, but as there are three pairs in group B winning two matches, the Chinese pair eventually failed to qualify due to lack of points.
Men' s singles second seed Chen Long from China wasn't required to use all his weapons as he deftly put away Poland's Adrian Dziolko 21-12, 21-9. Endit