Olympic badminton results August 18: Japan takes gold in Women’s Doubles
By John Buhler
Day 8 of Olympic badminton saw Japan win over Denmark in the Women’s Doubles to take home Olympic. Great Britain earned a bronze in Men’s Doubles.
Eight Olympic medals were earned on the court during Day 8 of Olympic badminton at Riocentro. Thursday morning saw Great Britain take home the bronze medal in the Men’s Doubles over China, South Korea win bronze in the Women’s Doubles, and Japan just eke out Denmark in the Women’s Doubles Finals for Olympic gold.
The first match of the day at Riocentro saw South Korea’s Jung Kyung Eun and Shin Seung Chan defeat China’s Tang Yuanting and Yu Yang for the bronze medal in the Women’s Doubles. The South Koreans topped the Chinese, 2-0 in the bronze medal match, winning the first set easily 21-8 and the second set, 21-17.
The Women’s Singles Semifinals played themselves out with top-seeded Carolina Marin of Spain advancing over China’s Li Xuerui, 2-0 to the finals. Meeting Marin for a chance at Olympic gold will be India’s V. Sindhu Pusarla, who knocked off Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara. Li and Okuhara will play for the bronze.
Great Britain finished up a strong showing in the Men’s Doubles when Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge were able to top China’s Chai Biao and Hong Wei for Olympic bronze. Great Britain won the first set, 21-18, but dropped the second, 21-19 to force a pivotal third set. The Chinese duo ran out of gas and the British clobbered them in the third set 21-10 to earn the bronze.
To finish out Day 8 of Olympic Badminton at Riocentro on Thursday, the best was saved for last as Japan was able to take the gold in the Women’s Doubles over a valiant effort from their Danish adversaries.
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After dropping the first set, 21-18, Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi were able to win back-to-back sets over Denmark’s Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl, 21-9 and 21-19 to win Olympic gold 2-1.
MEDAL RESULT | Women's Doubles
The British duo of Ellis and Langridge will get their medals once the Men’s Doubles Finals between Malaysia and China is sorted out on Friday morning. Spain and India are guaranteed to win an Olympic medal in the Women’s Singles, but Japan and China are still in the mix for a medal in that particular badminton event.