Birch will take lesson from defeat Down Under

Preston's Chloe Birch (Picture: Badminton Photo)

The 22-year-old from Preston won earlier in the day in the women’s doubles alongside Jess Pugh but could not follow that up against Gilmour, a silver medalist in Glasgow four years ago.

However after winning bronze in the team event earlier in the week, and still in contention for a women’s doubles medal, Birch insists she can learn from her experience Down Under.

She said: “The first set was close, I was down a little bit but fought really well to get back but I was just a few too many points down in the first game to get on top.

“And in the second game she played well, to be fair to her. It’s tough coming off the back of a team event because I’ve got a lot more games in my legs.

“It’s hard now as I’m really disappointed that I’ve lost but once I watch the games back I think it’s been quite a good singles performance over the last couple of weeks.

“I worked really hard to be in the best shape I could be here and I’ve played some of the best badminton I’ve ever played so I can’t complain too much and I’ve still got the doubles.

“It has been a good couple of weeks and for a first Games, I can’t complain.

“I think I’ve faced some of the top players here, especially Kirsty. She’s had some really good wins and has been at that level for quite a few years now whereas I’m only just reaching that level so it’s good experience for me to play these players.

“Hopefully I can take it on board and next time it won’t be a loss.

“I love team events and I love playing as a team and I really like that aspect of the Commonwealths so I’m really happy I put in some good performances for the team and really helped us get a bronze.”

Elsewhere, Chorley’s Laura Massaro and partner Sarah-Jane Perry will go in the quarter-final of the women’s squash doubles on Friday against Malaysian pair Rachel Arnold and Sivasangari Subramaniam.

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