31 August, 2024
Krysten Coombs discovered his finest badminton to clinch a spot within the quarter-finals of the lads’s singles SH6 with an announcement win over Sivarajan Solaimalai.
After profitable bronze on this occasion in Tokyo three years in the past, Coombs is into the final eight as soon as once more as he seems to return to the rostrum.
And he bought there by getting the higher of Solaimalai 21-12, 21-10 in a match the place the group made their voice heard at La Chapelle Area.
With two wins from his three group video games, Coombs secured second place in his group to qualify and he believes he’s taking part in his finest badminton at simply the best time.
Coombs mentioned: “As we speak that was an incredible instance of the badminton I really feel I can play for the time being and the arrogance I’ve bought so convey on the quarter-finals now.
“The gang is superb. We didn’t have it in Tokyo, we don’t have it in every other para tournaments. To have the environment like that’s simply unimaginable. It brings one other degree to your recreation.
“[Solaimalai] was loving it as effectively and he bought them going midway by way of after which I bought them going, it was simply sensible.”
Whereas Coombs went by way of, fellow SH6 shuttler Jack Shephard missed out after he misplaced to house favorite Charles Noakes.
The Frenchman had received his two earlier group video games, with Shephard needing to finish that run to achieve the final eight. However he was crushed 21-17, 21-17 and finishes fourth in his group.
Shephard mentioned: “I need to begin by saying an enormous thanks to all the love and help that has been on the market this week. With out that I wouldn’t be the place I’m in the present day.
“Having the chance to play a French participant at their house Video games was completely superb. Everyone knows in Europe the French crowd will be sensible they usually placed on a present for us. To have the ability to play in entrance of them it was completely sensible to have the ability to be on the market.
“It’s not the consequence I needed. Hats off to Charles he performed a great recreation. I felt like I attempted to throw completely every thing at him that I may, however sadly it wasn’t sufficient.”
✅3 for 3 victories within the group stage 🔥
Deliver on the semi-finals! 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
📸 @badmintonphoto #Paris2024 @ParalympicsGB pic.twitter.com/kypwEx5hf4
— Badminton England (@BadmintonEnglnd) August 31, 2024
In the meantime, Dan Bethell will not be getting complacent after he sealed his spot within the semi-finals of the lads’s SL3 singles.
The 28-year-old is at present undefeated in Paris, having received all three of his group matches and is now only one win away from a second Paralympic medal.
The Brit received ParalympicsGB’s first-ever badminton medal with silver in Tokyo and stormed by way of his final group recreation in Paris with a scientific 21-5 21-5 victory over Oleksandr Chyrkov from Ukraine to place himself in competition for extra historical past.
And Bethell will not be quiet in expressing his want for gold within the French capital, believing that he’s taking part in one of the best badminton he ever has.
He mentioned: “It’s simply an honour to be on the Paralympics so to get to the semi-finals and to be inside a shot of a medal once more is implausible.
“However I can’t get complacent right here, the job is to not simply get to the semi-final I would like that gold medal so it’s all about going again, sticking to my plans and recovering now.
“I really feel like I’m taking part in among the finest badminton of my profession and getting there on the proper time.
“I’m loving it greater than something, taking part in in entrance of the group is superb and it’s a privilege to be on the market and doing that.”
Bethell, who’s the present world quantity two, has been undefeated for almost all of the previous yr, solely falling in his world championship ultimate towards the person who additionally beat him to gold at Tokyo 2020, India’s Pramod Bhagat.
However with Pramod not contending at Paris and with three emphatic victories to his identify at La Chapelle Area, but to drop a set, Bethell will probably be hoping that that is the prospect for him to lastly clinch at long-awaited gold and make his Paralympic goals come true.
“I really feel actually good, I simply needed to go on the market within the final group recreation at getting going wanting ahead to the semi-finals,” he mentioned.
“It’s the identical as the opposite two matches, I needed to be strong and follow my recreation plan and I’m actually pleased with that consequence and to get by way of within the method I did.”
Final however not least, Rachel Choong wrapped up prime spot within the ladies’s singles SH6 group B. She got here out on prime towards Poland’s Oliwia Szmigiel in an epic battle, triumphing 17-21, 21-10, 21-16.
On her Paralympic debut, Choong is now into the quarter-finals and was delighted to have bounced again from going out of the combined doubles alongside Shephard.
She mentioned: “I had a late match final evening within the combined doubles and I misplaced that which implies that sadly Jack and I are out of the combined doubles so to bounce again from that and put in a great efficiency, I’m actually happy with that. Hopefully I can carry this momentum into the quarter-finals.
“I’ve had some difficult matches with Oliwia earlier than, she beat me on the Europeans a few yr and a half in the past. That damage so I’m actually happy to get my second win towards her since then. As soon as I discovered my momentum, I felt I used to be taking part in effectively so it’s nice. There wasn’t a lot strain as a result of we each knew we’d be progressing to the subsequent spherical however I nonetheless felt nervous going into it. I’m glad I may settle and put in a great efficiency.”
