Loughborough College graduate Chloe Birch took a step closer to a second Commonwealth Games medal on the Gold Coast on day seven of competition after a triumph in the women’s singles Badminton.
Chloe made a solid start in the round yesterday with a decisive win over South Africa’s Johanita Scholtz and the games were over today for Jersey’s Elise Dixon after she lost 21-2 and 21-5 to the England player.
The 22 year old played a key role in the run to win bronze in the team event on Monday. Undefeated through the group stages and quarter-final against Canada Chloe helped set up England’s semi-final against Malaysia.
Following Chloe’s narrow loss to women’s singles fifth seed Sonia Cheah in three close sets, the team bounced back to claim victory against Singapore – Chloe’s first ever Commonwealth medal.
“I always get stuck in when I go on court and I have probably played some of my best badminton here,” she said. “I am really glad I could fight and do my best for Team England.”
England meanwhile maintained their unbeaten run to topple New Zealand in the women’s netball.
The 54-45 victory was the Red Roses’ biggest win and their first Commonwealth triumph over New Zealand.
The win for the team, which includes five Loughborough College alumni, saw them finish top of their group to face Jamaica in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Loughborough College student Ross Wilson won his first round Para Table Tennis match 3-2 against South Africa’s Theo Coghill and will face Australia’s Barak Mizrachi tomorrow, with a place in the TT 6-10 semi finals up for grabs.
“It was a tough match. He’s a great player so I had to bring my best game today and thankfully I did. Hopefully after the next group game I can get through to the semi’s. My next opponent is a class lower than me so it should give me a good chance.”
England are set to face Australia in the men’s Hockey semi-finals tomorrow after a last gasp goal today saw the team defeated 4-3 by India.
The squad, which includes Loughborough College alumni Henry Weir and Chris Griffiths, watched the Pool B top spot snatched from them when India scored twice in the final two minutes – the second time with only 39 seconds to go – for a remarkable win.
Former Loughborough College student and England athlete Richard Kilty was out of the men’s 200m after finishing fifth in his heat and there was disaster for fellow alumnus and teammate Robbie Grabarz in the high jump final.
The London 2012 bronze medallist was making his Commonwealth Games debut but failed his three attempts at 2.21m - 16cm short of his personal best - putting him in twelfth place. Chris Baker, also a former Loughborough College degree student, finished ninth.
“It’s amazing atmosphere out there, it just didn’t happen for me today,” said Chris. “I have a new coach and new setup for this season and stuff is coming into place, but today just didn’t happen. I just need time to process my performance. Physically I’m there, technically I’m there, I’m just not allowing myself to do what I’m capable of. It’s all there, but putting it under the pressure of a big occasion – I didn’t live up to it.”
Robbie added: “I feel like I’m in good shape but I don’t feel like I’m taking any pleasure in competing at the moment, which is a shame. I want to enjoy competing again; the training is fun and going really well. It’s the worst I’ve jumped for a long time so it is not good. It isn’t how I expected my first Commonwealth Games final would go but I’ll move on from it.
“As much as I didn’t want to be a spectator it is always good to stay; I respect the competitors. I try and give some advice where I can to one or two athletes, whether they take it or not is their choice. It was a great competition to watch. An Australian winning in front of this brilliant home crowd; it’s hardly surprising.”
Pictured: Loughborough College graduate Chloe Birch has a second Commonwealth Games medal in her sights on the Gold Coast after a second triumph in the women’s singles Badminton