Nice Britain’s involvement within the Paris 2024 Olympics badminton competitors got here to an finish within the group stage as Kirsty Gilmour was crushed in straight video games by He Bing Jiao.
Gilmour began the winner-takes-all conflict confidently and led for almost all of the primary recreation, opening up a 20-16 lead.
However He saved all 4 recreation factors to stage the scores earlier than some epic rallies as the sport went all the way down to the wire.
The world quantity 9 in the end got here out on prime 24-22 and took that momentum into the second recreation, shortly opening up a 9-1 benefit.
Gilmour clawed again floor however the deficit proved too huge to make up because the Chinese language star wrapped up a 21-8 second recreation victory to proceed to the knockout levels.
The Scot has exited on the group stage at three consecutive Olympics however leaves this one with a more healthy sense of perspective which she hopes will stand her in good stead as she targets a fourth Video games in LA.
“I’m actually pleased with the strides I’ve made,” they mentioned.
“We determined to not put the burden of the world on this Olympic Video games.
“That is by far probably the most ready, assured, bodily succesful and mentally succesful I’ve ever been at an Olympics.
“I’ve levelled up every time and that is the most effective badminton I’ve ever performed at an Olympics. Perhaps I’ll go for one more one.”
What a match, what an effort 🔥💪🦁🏸
Happy with you and your efficiency 🤩🇬🇧
3️⃣ time Olympian 👏#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/wTe01whs9V
— Badminton England (@BadmintonEnglnd) July 30, 2024
Gilmour gained their first two conferences with He however the final of these arrived on the 2017 World Championships they usually arrived for his or her newest assembly having misplaced the final 4 clashes between the pair.
The 30-year-old started like a participant decided to place the report straight, to which in addition they credited a contemporary mindset.
“It was all the time going to be a tricky one however we went into it with a clear slate,” she mentioned.
“We’ve performed one another a very good few instances, I gained some firstly however she has gained the previous few.
“We determined to wipe the slate clear and play towards a faceless opponent and I did that fairly properly.
“I used to be delighted with how that first set went up till 20(-16). I used to be disenchanted on the change of ends and couldn’t dominate the web like I did within the first set.
“Her overheads obtained fairly punchy. I struggled slightly bit there.”
Ben Lane and Sean Vendy additionally departed on the group stage within the males’s doubles competitors however Gilmour believes there are causes to be optimistic for British badminton.
“I’m nonetheless on the go, Ben and Sean have a couple of extra in them and we now have some actually good younger ones coming by,” she added.
“I’m going to take a very good break, go on vacation with my girlfriend after which I’ll hit the bottom working.”
