Jess Pugh overcomes nerves to bag first-round win
Telford badminton star Jess Pugh couldn’t have asked for a better start to her maiden TOTAL BWF World Championships after recording a first-round victory with mixed doubles partner Ben Lane.
Pugh and Lane, England’s No.2 ranked mixed doubles pair after Olympians Chris and Gabby Adcock, prevailed in three sets against Dutch duo Robin Tabeling and Cheryl Seinen at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena, bouncing back from one set down to win 14-21, 21-16, 21-14.
As the first English shuttlers to take to the court, their nerves were evident in the opening set as Tabeling and Seinen dominated play to take the early advantage.
But something clicked for Pugh and Lane in the second set, taking complete control to never let their opponents within a whisker of wrapping up a two-set victory.
The third set was much the same, the English pair never dropping the lead from the very first point, and 20-year-old Pugh couldn’t have been happier with their turnaround in fortunes.
“We were really excited to play at our first World Championships so there’s always going to be mixed emotions,” she said. “We did really well to pull through and win in the end, so we’re happy with the win.
“To begin with we were a bit nervous and they came out fast.”
The TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017 will be staged at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena from 21-27 August.
It is being delivered by BADMINTONscotland in partnership with Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council and with funding support from EventScotland and The National Lottery through UK Sport. Tickets available at www.glasgow2017.com/tickets
