Ninth All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria-Badminton: Team event |17 July 2007

SEYCHELLES made its official entry in the medals standings of the ongoing Ninth All-Africa Games on Sunday. The medal, which came in the badminton team event, is of the bronze hue although many were expecting a gold one. This means that Seychelles is
still chasing the elusive gold medal in the quadrennial Games.

Upon winning group 'A' of the team event with three victories in as many matches played, Seychelles were matched against group 'B' runners-up South Africa in the semifinals on Sunday for a place in the afternoon final.

Although Seychelles knew that South Africa would be out to gun them down after they had beaten the same South African team for the African Championships title in Mauritius earlier this year, victory was the only thing on the Seychellois players' minds.

The Seychelles team got off to a good start with their star mixed doubles pair of Juliette Ah-Wan and Georgie Cupidon beating South Africans Dorian James and Michelle Edwards 2-0.

When Steve Malcouzane lost 1-2 to Chris Dednam in the men's singles, the overall score was tied at 1-1.

Ah-Wan then restored the lead when she took to the court in the ladies' singles, getting a 2-0 victory over Steffy Doubell.

The men's doubles pair of Cupidon and Malcouzane was then edged 1-2 by the Dednam brothers - Chris and Rudolf.

A fifth and decisive match was therefore needed to decide the finalists, but with Ah-Wan having already played two matches - the maximum allowed against any opponent in the team event – Cynthia Course had to partner Catherina Paulin in the ladies' doubles which they lost 0-2 to Michelle Edwards and Chantal Botts.

Seychelles had to be contented with the bronze medal like in 2003 in Abuja, Nigeria, as South Africa progressed to the final where they were whitewashed 3-0 by Nigeria who had eliminated group 'B' runners-up Algeria in the other semifinal.

Disappointed at not getting Seychelles its first ever gold medal at the All-Africa Games, Malcouzane said that "we didn't do quite badly. Before the semifinal encounter, I didn't see how South Africa could beat us, but they did. This is because we committed too
many unforced errors."
After a day's rest yesterday, the badminton players return to action today inside the OMS El Biar Hall in Algiers, in the individual event.

As expected, Seychellois shuttlers should feature highly as they are among the favourites for the gold medals in the mixed doubles, men's doubles and ladies' singles.

By Gerard Govinden in Algiers