Badminton ace Chloe Birch ready for singles event after winning team bronze at Commonwealth Games

Chloe Birch proved one of the heroes of England's run to the bronze medal in the team event, and now the badminton ace is ready to branch out on her own on the Gold Coast.
Chloe Birch, back left, celebrates Team England's bronze medalChloe Birch, back left, celebrates Team England's bronze medal
Chloe Birch, back left, celebrates Team England's bronze medal

Preston's Birch went unbeaten through the group stages and quarter-final against Canada to help set up a team semi-final against Malaysia.

There she suffered a narrow loss to Soniia Cheah – the fifth seed for the women's singles – in three close sets.

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But England bounced back to take bronze on Monday with a straight-forward victory over Singapore and give the 22-year-old Birch her first-ever Commonwealth medal.

Chloe Birch now goes for glory in the singlesChloe Birch now goes for glory in the singles
Chloe Birch now goes for glory in the singles

“We came in here expecting a medal, and Singapore put up a real fight in the bronze medal playoff but everyone dug really deep,” she said.

“We all wanted to get our hands on a medal after the disappointment of losing to Malaysia so I am really happy.”

Birch will now have a free shot in the women’s singles draw with little pressure on her.

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Ranked down at 63 in the world, Birch has been playing well above that level here on the Gold Coast and will kick off her campaign for individual glory against Johanita Scholtz of South Africa in the early hours on Tuesday morning.

Chloe Birch now goes for glory in the singlesChloe Birch now goes for glory in the singles
Chloe Birch now goes for glory in the singles

And there is plenty of cause for optimism considering the two have already met in the team event and Birch proved far too strong, dispatching the 18-year-old South African 21-10, 21-10.

“I am really excited for the individual, I actually feel quite fresh unbelievably,” added the Lancashire star.

“Anything can happen, I am really looking forward to it, I know that I am playing well this week so we will see what is going to happen but hopefully I can be causing a few upsets.”

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Birch has been hailed by her teammates as the gutsiest player in the team, and her in-your-face style has kept the England bandwagon rolling in the second week in Australia.

“It is really nice to know that, I always get stuck in when I go on court and I have probably played some of my best badminton here,” she added.

“I cannot complain at all, it is really positive going into the individual now and I am really glad I could fight and do my best for Team England.”

npower is the Official Partner of Team England and is giving our athletes the power of support by recording a brand new version of their anthem, Jerusalem. To listen to the track visit npower.com/teamengland

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