XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia - Day Two Seychelles badminton exit team event after second loss |07 April 2018

A second consecutive loss in as many matches had dented Team Seychelles’ chances of advancing to the knockout stage of the badminton team event competition at the XIX Commonwealth Games.

Following their loss against Canada on Thursday, Team Seychelles’ second defeat yesterday was at the hands of Malaysia.

The defeat placed Seychelles fourth in pool B, allowing group leaders Malaysia and Canada to go through, while Ghana took the third overall spot.

For the mixed team event which is being held at the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre, the teams were drawn into four groups of four, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout stage.

Kervin Ghislain lost his men’s singles match 0-2 (10-21, 5-21) against Goh Soon Huat, before pairing up with Steve Malcouzane in the men’s doubles against Tan Wee Kiong and Goh V Shem. Ghislain and Malcouzane lost the match 0-2 (14-21, 12-21).

Malcouzane was in action again yesterday in the mixed doubles, playing alongside Alisen Camille against the Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai duo. Once again our players were no match for the Malaysians who easily won the match 2-0 (21-8, 21-4).

Similarly to day one of the competition, Seychelles did not field in players for the women’s doubles, allowing Vivian Hoo and Chow Mei Kuan to win by walk-over. Malaysia’s other victory came courtesy of Soniia Cheah who also won by walk-over in the women’s singles.

In the other in group B match, Canada whitewashed Ghana 5-0.

Seychelles was drawn in pool D together with Canada, Malaysia and Ghana.

In swimming, four local contestants were in action yesterday at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.

In the men’s 200m freestyle, Dean Hoffman clocked 1 minute 59.54 seconds (1:59.54), earning him 27th spot overall.

In the 100m breaststroke Samuele Rossi finished in 1:06.25. The result placed him 17th overall.

In the women’s 100m backstroke, Aaliyah Palestrini clocked 1:07.26 for a 24th overall finish and her teammate Therese Soukup finished with a time of 1:10.57.

Palestrini and Soukup were in action again in the women’s 50m freestyle. In heat number two, Soukup clocked 28.45 seconds to finish 28th overall, one spot ahead of Palestrini who clocked 28.52 seconds earning her the 29th overall position.

In squash, Klaus Pragassen lost his second match on a 0-3 score against Joe Chapman of Fiji.

Boxer Shain Boniface was also in action yesterday in the -69kg category. Boniface lost 0-5 against Jonathan François of Grenada and the referee scored the fight 30-26, 30-26, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 in François’ favour.

R. D.