Badminton-Spectacular play in knockout competition |17 November 2008
Playing in her first singles final in more than a year, female number one player Juliette Ah-Wan was slow to get into high gear, dropping the opening set 19-21 against her cousin Alisen Camille, who succeeded her as Curtain-raiser champion in June with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-7) win over Danielle Jupiter in her first-ever final.
The reigning sportslady of the year regained her composure in the second set, during which she trailed just once at 1-2, pulling level at one set all with a 21-11 victory after Camille committed too many unforced errors.
After breaking Ah-Wan’s service to lead 1-0 in the third set, Camille, 17 and double gold medallist at the Sixth CJSOI Games in July, threatened to stretch Ah-Wan to the limit, but that was the only time she was in control. Camille have surely gathered valuable experience and learned from the former African singles champion although she lost the third set 10-21.
Sportsman of the year Georgie Cupidon breathed a sigh of relief when he reached game-point first in the tight third set of the men’s singles final and then punched the air in ecstasy as the shuttlecock dropped into Steve Malcouzane’s half of the court after hitting the top of the net.
Cupidon had survived a scare and had stared defeat in the face, but used his vast 
After Malcouzane made a comeback from 0-3 down to completely dominate the first set, which he won 21-11, Cupidon had to react to stay alive. He trailed 0-3 but equalised at 4-4 to then lead 5-4, 11-7 and 17-11, but Malcouzane used a 6-1 run to pull level at 18-18. In the end, Cupidon had the last word, winning the second set 21-19.
A third set was needed to decide the winner and it proved to be an exciting one with long rallies and spectacular play.
Looking much fitter, Malcouzane led 12-8 and 15-12, but when his smash went straight into the net, it gave Cupidon the opportunity to level at 15-15. The country’s number one male player then relied a lot on intelligent play to stay in control until 19-18, but Malcouzane did not give in easily, equalising at 19-19 to add more suspense to the match.
Cupidon scored the game’s final two points to celebrate another win over good friend Malcouzane.
The two players joined forces in the men’s doubles final to beat the duo of coach Gerald Bibi and youngster Kervin Ghislain 2-0 (21-18, 21-11).
The ladies’ doubles was won by Catherina Paulin and Cynthia Course on a 2-0 (30-29, 21-15) score against Ah-Wan and Camille.
It was really a bad day for Camille as she also lost her third final – the mixed doubles with Cupidon as partner – 0-2 (19-21, 14-21) to Ah-Wan and Malcouzane.
The singles winners and runners-up got R400 and R300, while the cash prizes for the doubles were R250 and R200.
While Camille, who got R700, has vowed to get at least a win in the next competition – the Closing Cup to be played from December 1-6 – Ah-Wan was happy with her performance worth R850.
“At first I didn’t want to play the singles, but I’m happy I’ve won the title. The ladies’ doubles final was not easy at all. Alisen (Camille) and I lacked coordination on the court and it’s normal because we are not used to playing together. In the mixed doubles, we played better than our opponents and our experience came in handy,” said 27-year-old Ah-Wan.
As for Cupidon, who also went home with R850, he had this to say: “We all witnessed a very good level of badminton today. All the finalists came out to win something and it was very encouraging to see young players challenge the seniors. This is good for Seychelles badminton, although coach Luo is leaving soon.”
G. G.