Badminton: team event-Seychelles play Mauritius in men’s and women’s finals |08 August 2011

The country’s men’s team beat the Maldives 3-0 in yesterday’s semifinal. Georgie Cupidon needed three sets to beat Mohamed Rashed 2-1 (19-21, 21-18, 21-8), Steve Malcouzane defeated Nasheen Sharfudheen 2-0 (21-11, 21-15) and Kervin Ghislain needed just 22 minutes to whitewash Mohamed Nashfan 21-12, 21-8,.

In the other semifinal, defending champions Mauritius battled to earn a 3-2 win over Reunion. Kiran Baboulall gave Mauritius the lead with a 2-0 (21-17, 21-9) win over Didier Nourry, but Loïc Bertil pulled Reunion level with a hard-fought 2-1 (21-17, 18-21, 21-10) win over Yoni Louison.

Mauritius regained the lead with Stephen Beeharry beating Xavier Chan Fung Ting 2-0 (21-19, 21-14), and once again Reunion equalised with Nourry and Olivier Fossy teaming up in the men’s doubles to beat Louison and Baboulall.

Beeharry and Vishal Sawaram gave Mauritius the win and a place in the final against Seychelles with a 2-0 (21-12, 218) victory over Xavier Chan Fung Ting and Stephane Chan Fung Ting.

The five men’s teams were divided into two groups of two and three. In their only group B match, Seychelles beat Reunion 3-1 to finish first and reach the semifinal.

Mauritius beat Maldives 3-2 and Madagascar 5-0 in group A to progress to the last-four stage with maximum points.
Losing semifinalists Reunion and Maldives are already assured of a bronze medal each.

The women’s tournament is being played on a league basis with only four teams taking part. Seychelles have won two matches, beating Madagascar 5-0 (overall score: 210-64) and Reunion 5-0 (overall score: 227-141).

As for Mauritius, they have registered wins against Reunion 5-0 (overall score: 210-116) and Madagascar 5-0 (overall score: 210-59).

With two wins apiece, Seychelles and Mauritius will meet in this morning decider for the gold and silver medals.
As for Reunion and Madagascar, they will meet in the third place play-off encounter for the bronze medal.

I.H.