Glasgow: Michelle Li became the first Canadian to win women’s singles gold at the Commonwealth Games badminton on Sunday as she saw off the challenge of Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour and her passionate home following at the Emirates Arena.
“This will mean a lot for Canada and it definitely means a lot to me. I’m really happy to have the opportunity to represent my country.”
“I’m self-funded but we have a bit of government funding. We still have to put in a bit of our own money, though, as well as sponsors.”
“This will give me confidence to push in the World Championships but I will be going for gold.”
Meanwhile, Gilmour admitted her semi-final exertions to beat Tee Jing-yi left her feeling exhausted.
“I gave so much yesterday mentally, and so much concentration that I don’t think I had much left today, but I gave it my all,” she said.
“I wasn’t 100 per cent right mentally out there.”
In men’s singles, Kashyap’s clash with Wong was a tense affair from the start but the Indian, who was bronze medalist in Delhi, was helped by a noisy support to win the first game 21-14. Wong came back in the second to win it 21-11 but it was neck and neck in the final game. Parupalli eventually took it from 19-19 in 61 minutes before ripping off his shirt in one of the most excited celebrations of the Games.
“I’m so happy,” said the 27-year-old. “This championship means such a lot to me. These Games come every four years and that’s what drove me on. I knew when I came into the tournament I wanted the gold medal. I have not played up to my ability but I’ve made it through.
“I won the first set comfortably and there was no fight in him but in the second set he showed why he reached the final. I started to be more aggressive and I am just so happy for me and for my country. I have got four or five years left and now I want big medals and big championships.”
