Three badminton players cruise into second round |31 August 2023

Jakim Renaud

Team Seychelles’ badminton players were in action yesterday afternoon at the Zone Expo Forello in Tanjombola for the second time since the start of the badminton competition on August 26 at the 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games in Madagascar.

The programme for the day was the elimination rounds for the men’s and women’s singles and mixed doubles. Jakim Renaud, Alisen Camille and Aurelie Jean Louis are the only three players who have booked their place into the second round after wins in the men’s and women’s singles respectively.

Renaud won his match 2-0 (21-8, 21-7) over Guilliame Bourel from Mayotte while Camille collected a 2-0 (21-9, 21-14) win over Asminah Razafimamonjiarison from Madagascar. As for Jean Louis, she went straight into the second round without having to sweat.

Aaron Malcouzane, Yohan Didon and Jie Luo were the three male players who did not make it to the second round. Malcouzane lost 0-2 (15-21, 16-21) to Tokinirina Razafimandimby from Madagascar just like Didon who lost 0-2 to Marc Vonjiniryna, also from Madagascar. The most disappointing loss came from Luo who put up a strong fight against Thoif Mohamed from the Maldives who in the end won 2-1 (21-19, 19-21, 31-29). The third set was a do-or-die affair between the two players as they exchanged points to draw level from 17-17 up to 29-29 before Mohamed had the last say on a 29-27 score following a miscalculated move by Luo.

“I was over excited. I was too excited. This is what caused me to lose this match. Even though coach told me to relax I couldn’t hold on and for that I made an easy mistakes and lost the point and the match,” said Luo.

In the mixed doubles, Renaud and Sejal Shah lost 0-2 (15-21, 10-21) to Alexandre Bongout and Kobita Dookhee from Mauritius while Steve Malcouzane and Jesse Mancienne also lost 0-2 (17-21, 18-21) to Lucas Douce and Lorna Bodha also from Mauritius. Didon and Jean Louis, two young 15-year-olds making their debut in the games lost their match 0-2 (7-21, 9-21) to Thibaud Cougouille and Merina Belle from Reunion.

Apart from Renaud, Camille and Jean Louis who will be playing the men’s and women’s singles today, Camille will also pair up with Luo for the mixed doubles. The competition today will also see the start of the men’s and women’s doubles.         

“On the whole, I am very satisfied with the performance of the players especially Luo who could have won the match after putting up a good fight and also two young players, Yohan and Aurelie, who managed to display all that we had taught them. Everyone did their best and we hope to do much better tomorrow (today) in our quest to win a medal to make Seychelles proud,” coach Joel Dubel told Sports NATION.

Patrick Joubert