2009 Bank of Scotland International Badminton Championships, First Round Close Call

Here I am in Glasgow at the 2009 Scottish International. Yesterday afternoon I played my first round against a young English player Chris Coles and what a match it turned out to be. I had a feeling that I was going to have a tough time in that match since in my warm up I was not feeling quite right. Before it was time to play I told my coach, Michael Kjeldsen, that I was feeling heavy and that he would have to push me throughout the match.
In the first set I had a tough time seeing the shuttle and resorted to only play the net and flat. This worked to a certain extent but he was better than me in the flat play and that kept the game close. I was leading 19-17 when he then played a few very good rallies to take the set 22-20.
In the second set I felt a bit stunned and still uncomfortable on court and it showed. Coles was leading the whole way, being up 12-8 and 17-14. But that whole set my coach was constantly telling to turn it into a man’s game….which means no mistakes and get everything back. That is what I did. I had nothing else to offer but my desire to win the match. I ended up winning the second set 21-19.
In the third set it was pretty even until about 5-5, but then I took a good lead by going up 11-6. I held that lead throughout the second half of the set and ended up winning 21-16. That match was won purely on desire, nothing else….it was not my great play or tactics..just desire. I am happy to say that I was able to win it.
Today I will be facing a Scottish player, Calum Menzies at 2.00pm Scotland time. I have never played him or seen him play before. I will just go out there and want to win as badly as I did yesterday.
To follow the results please click on the link below
DRAW and RESULTS