Team England – Day 1 Quotes from this morning and overnight
Thursday 5th April 2018
Following his victory over Ugandan Edwin Ekiring by two sets to nil, Hounslow’s Rajiv Ouseph had this to say:
“It was nice for me, it was probably better for me that I got a little bit more of a workout in that second game, got me more used to the hall, it’s actually been playing a little bit differently in practice to how it was today, so yeah was nice for me to get that game and give another game to England.
“[On how it was different in practice] It was potentially more people here watching it, and there’s no one really watching when practicing! There was a few more people here watching so I just had to adjust to the speed and put ourselves in a good position for the days going forward.
“[On the importance of team event] For us it’s very important, it gives us the chance for our team to have a good start to these Commonwealth Games, we’re definitely looking for a medal and once you get to that semi-final stage anything can happen.
“Everything’s been very good, I think we’ve come pretty early compared to some of the other Games, obviously a little bit further than where I’ve been before. Everything’s top notch in the village, everything’s really good, so it as hard to concentrate on the Games, but after the ceremony last night it was down to business today. Chris and Gabby got us off to a good start and I’m just happy to continue that.
“I’m in good shape, it’s quite a long tournament for us but this is what we play for, we train to play for these long team events and try to get through to the later stages.”
After easing past Ugandan opponent Shamin Bangi 2-0 on her Commonwealth debut, Chloe Birch, from Preston, said:
“It was a little bit nervous going into that but my first Commonwealth and the first game isn’t always the easiest but yeah I’m really happy with that. It was nice to play in the arena as it has changed a little bit since we warmed up. So really happy.
“Obviously we’re three-nil up now so it’s kind of game over but there’s still games to play, and everyone’s really happy obviously, we’ve had a good week training out here, and I think everyone was excited to get started. It’s nice to have friends and family in the crowd as well, and you can’t beat representing Team England.”
Team England’s married badminton mixed doubles stars Chris and Gabby Adcock shares their thoughts after winning their first match of the Games, against Uganda.
Gabby, from Leeds, said:
“To get the team off to a good start is always a responsibility of ours and we feel we did it very well today.”
“I feel really good despite my ankle injury. The build-up wasn’t perfect, but I feel ready to go and I’m pretty much there now.
“The commonwealth games are huge for us. It’s an event were we always have to come in and try winning, especially having won in Glasgow, we want to retain our title. I remember how good it felt last time and to wear the English flag, we feel very proud to represent team England.”
Chris, from Leicester, said:
“The atmosphere is really good, we have a good crowd in, and we can definitely hear the Aussies in the next court so that’ll make for a really good match up later on in our group stage. All feels nice and we are ready.
“We are going to take one game at a time, but we really want the medals and the team is looking good and strong, we’ve had some very good weeks of preparation out here so hopefully we will get another medal.”
England Netball captain Ama Agbeze, from Selly Oak, was delighted with England’s first win of the Games, winning 74-28 over Scotland:
“It feels quite good, to beat our close rivals Scotland, and hopefully everyone has come away from it fit and healthy. It was nice to get the first game out of the way and settle the nerves, especially for the girls who are taking part in their first Games.
“It’s been a long time coming, and I think it’s time for us to win the gold medal.”
Despite a frustrating initial Snatch, Kelly-Jo Robson, from Middlesbrough, lifted a personal best on the Clean & Jerk to finish sixth in the women’s weightlifting, just four kilograms out of the medals. She had this to say on her international debut:
[On coming straight out for the third Snatch] “It wasn’t heavy, it wasn’t heavy at all. The only reason why I didn’t get my first one was because my elbow was slightly soft if it was anything. I did my third Snatch straight again. I would have liked to go higher today in my Snatch, because I have snatched 67kg in competition before, but this is my first international, so it’s very, very different and it is scary out there.”
[On being at the GC] “It feels amazing, and it’s like ‘pinch me’, I’m actually here! I had a bit of a fight for my position here between the other 48kg girls and then I got picked. It is a little bit scary.
[On preparation] “Just literally going through coaching points in my head and going over what my coaches have said to me while you’re in training. Just keep composed, breathe and do what you do in the gym every day and keep running through those coaching points and I suppose that’s the best you can do.”
Badminton men’s doubles stars Chris Langridge from Epsom and Marcus Ellis, from Huddersfield, won 4-0 against Uganda in their opening fixture.
Marcus said:
“Uganda have possibly got the most famous African Badminton players in their team, Edwin Ekirin. So, it was never going to be that easy for us but it’s been a good match so far and we are looking forward to keep the ball rolling and to move on to tomorrow
“It’s probably only the second after the Olympics for us so to go home with medals would be very special. The Commonwealth Games is a massive event so I certainly don’t want to go home empty handed so let’s see what happens in the next 9 or 10 days and fingers crossed’
Chris said:
“We’ve had good and bad performances and the rocky road has continued since Rio but we had a very good preparation here and we took a lot of confidence. We know that we can beat any of the guys here if we are at our best so and we are looking forward to do that.’
“The day we arrived here was the first day I’ve played pain free for six odd months because of my hand injury. But we’ve put up a good performance today, the level we played in, in that match, was the one of a top 10 in the world and if we play well, we can beat anyone.
“Breaking your hand in a racket sport is a pretty difficult thing to come back from and it’s taken a lot longer that I thought but we are definitely back on the right track now and we are definitely getting medals in the team event and then crack on in the individuals as well.”
Sheffield-born Nick Matthew, OBE, competing in his final Games before retirement, won his first match of the competition and said:
“It’s been a long wait, you could argue it’s been a four year wait, and once you get to Australia and get over that flight, you’re just itching to get ready.
“It’s nice to get the first win under my belt and play in those matches that optimise the friendly Games, then it gets into the serious stuff against the guys who are the top ranked in the world.
“I will be playing on a different court tomorrow but it’s important to try and get your feet moving, hit your targets and get as much as you can out of it for the next day. Just good to get the first match nerves out of the way.
“It’s not really crossed my mind at all, the fact that I am coming in having won last time. It’s not like it’s the following year, a lot can happen in four years.”
Laura Massaro, from Great Yarmouth, wants gold and winning her first match of the tournament against young Amanda Haywood from Barbados:
“It was good, it’s a bit of a weird one first round because I’d never seen Amanda Haywood play before, so all I knew was that she’d won earlier and it takes a bit a time to get used to those courts as well.
“It’s just fun anyway! The first few points, I was struggling to see the ball on the court and you leave it in the middle and Amanda just put a couple of shots in and in the end it was just quite good to come through and win because it was a bit of a shaky start but it was good to get on there and get through the next round and feel the competition.
“My form hasn’t been brilliant coming into 2018 so I’ve put in a good month training at home, I come in to the event knowing that I could have done no more at home and that makes me proud of myself whatever the result here and of course I’ve got three silver medals and I’d like to add a gold to it but there is a long way to go and dangerous opponents tomorrow. It’s just one match at a time.
“This competition is unique in that we have a month of preparation, normally, in PSA you’re looking to 2/3 weeks at the most so to have a solid month was really nice and I trained as hard as I perhaps have done in the last 18 months so I was really positive, I think after Chicago and our national championships, I realised that things had moved on and changed- the game is getting quicker and faster and my training needed to adapt to go with that so I’m trying to make a few changes, train harder, I’m trying to find my way back into tournament play and hopefully I’ll find my feet as this event goes on.”
Middlesbrough’s Aimee Willmott won gold ahead of Scotland’s Hannah Miley in the 400m individual medley:
“I knew this time I could have it in me if I just swam the race a little bit better and actually race it rather than thinking if I swim my PB it would get me a medal and I think that really paid off. I just kind of walked out and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing and I’m never going to experience that again, it was kind of swimming back in London and even though barely anyone was cheering for me I just knew that my parents were there, they’ve travelled all this way to support me and I just really wanted a gold medal!
“I tried to tactically swim it a lot better, in Glasgow my downfall was that I tried to win it after 250 meters and I gave everything down the first end of the breaststroke and I had nothing left in me for the last length so it’s a case of swimming controlled and really trying not to worry about what is going on and I just saw Hanna out in the corner of my eye and just kept relaxing in my breaststrokes and then just see what I had left for that last 25 of the freestyle and I thought she was coming up to me so I pushed harder, my legs were sore but it was just totally worth it!”
Coming from behind to claim gold in the women’s S7 50m butterfly, an emotional Ellie Robinson, from Northampton, said:
“I’m very focused when I get in the pool, and when I’m in the cool room I open my mind to tell myself what I can do and what I can achieve then it’s about going into the pool and proving that to myself. I think the most important thing to me is having that self-belief that I can do it.
(On family support) “Yeah I’ve got my mum and my dad, they’re watching me and I can’t wait to see them really and at the end of the day I’m only 16-years-old so I can’t wait to see my mum and dad.
“I really love having big crowds and having audiences to perform for because we’re swimming with athletes. This is like how singers go to concerts, this is how they showcase their talent and I like having those big crowds so I can show people what I can do. I love it so much because it shows that people really appreciate us and they really appreciate the sport.
“I’m so, so pleased for Tom (Hamer), he’s an amazing teammate, so motivational, always up for it and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Burnley’s Tom Hamer took gold and broke the world record in the men’s S14 200m Freestyle final:
“I tried to save as much as I could and recovered the best way possible during the day today, that was always part of the rest plan and that has paid off in this race so I’m really happy. I took the first line a bit steady, see how everyone was reacting at first and then the middle hundred I worked harder on that and tried to bring it home on the last one.
“I’m really happy and super pleased, winning the gold means the world, I got silver in 2014 and it’s amazing to see four years on how much I progress and gone on to the gold so I’m really happy.”
Louis Ridout, from Taunton, and Samuel Tolchard, from Torquay, lost against the Cook Island’s team at the men’s pair Lawn Bowls match today.
Sam said:
“I’m not really sure how we got in that position, I feel like we’ve actually played very well and that everything in the world has gone wrong.”
Louis said:
“Frustrated but disappointed more than anything. The last couple of days of training I thought I played quite well and then I didn’t perform today, I mean I weren’t awful but I was very inconsistent and put Sam under pressure but now all we can do is win both games tomorrow”
The men’s Gymnastics team won the team event this morning, with Leeds’ Nile Wilson and Essex’s Max Whitlock expressing their delight.
Nile Wilson said:
“That was one of the most complete performances I think we’ve ever put together. Everyone was just in top form and we dominated. Personally I’m delighted with my routines, I’ve had issues with my wrist and had to change my pommel routine to cater for it so to do that and still top the all-around is great. I’m so proud of all the boys, we had a lot of fun today. To win the first gold for England is pretty special”
Max Whitlock said:
“The lads did the job today. I had to wait till the last two pieces to compete but was keeping an eye out on the scores in the back gym. I’m really happy with floor and pommel, the most important thing today for me was to contribute to the team. Taking the team gold with the boys is always a special feeling”
Paul Brown, from Bristol, tells us about the men’s para-triple bowls game against South Africa:
“It was good, the team bounded well at the end which is good because we were under pressure and we turned it around in the last few ends. We had a period in the middle we just couldn’t get that one shot we were a drop in but the good thing is we were only drop in once, so we were keeping the score reasonably low and put a spur on in the end to almost have a chance to winning the game on the last end.
“To have managed to go from a defeat position and turn it around to a draw has given us huge confidence as a team, we bounded well, played well together and we were both fantastic in the last few ends.”
After a thrilling 400m freestyle race performance which saw James Guy, from Bury, clinch bronze in his first of seven Gold Coast events, he said:
“I was a little bit rusty, so I thought you know what I’m going to try to be the usual James Guy and try to break out from the start and that’s what I did. I could see I was way ahead about half way and I thought either I’m going to hold off or Mack (Horton) was going to catch me, but I knew he would do that. To be fair I thought he’d be way in front but he wasn’t I was just trying to defend second, and then I just wanted a medal but I took a cheeky bronze and that’s all I wanted to do.
“That’ll be the last time I do (a 400m race), if you think obviously I’ve got World’s next year and obviously the Olympics. We are going to start putting down my events now. The 400 is the big one on the first day of the meet. I have never done a 200 (metre) fresh where I have done nothing beforehand so hopefully it will make a bit of a difference.“
“It was weird. That was the first time I had been sick after a race in a long time. I saw Shannon after the relay. We went outside and we were sick everywhere. It’s not a very nice feeling but I did push myself to the absolute max. That’s what we train everyday for. Training that hard everyday then getting ready for the next session. Get back in now, swim down and get ready for tomorrow’s heat.”
Glasgow’s James Wilby came through with a sensational finish to grab England a gold in the 200m breaststroke.
“Finally smashing it at a competition like this is just a huge relief. I’m sure it will settle in. Like I said, more races to go.”
“Ross (Murdoch), I love him he is a great guy and competition. Breastroke in Britain is just incredible. We all get on, we all thrive off each other and how fast we swim, pushing each other along. If it means we are giving each other death stares, he’s a great friend. I was in my own little zone like wow, it’s finally happened.”
“I had a bit of an upset for myself in Budapest last year. As soon as I was back in the pool in Loughborough, I said to my coach Dave that that’s it. That’s gone,I can’t change it. Let’s move on and really put what went wrong right. I feel like this is the first confirmation of the work we’ve been doing.”
“My mum, she was ecstatic. She’s been there the whole way, so I’m incredibly happy that she’s here. My mum and her sister are here, my aunty. Hopefully it was worth the trip, I’m sure it was for them. I want to make them both proud.”
On winning bronze in the women’s 4x100m freestyle Siobhan Marie O’Connor, from Bath, said:
[On how the race went] “We always knew that the Aussies had such a strong team and it was amazing to be in there with them, they had a really great swim, but we’re really proud of our performance and getting a medal on our first day, it’s been a great start to the week, we’ve had such a good first night overall England have swum really well. It’s an amazing atmosphere out there, walking out was incredible, so many people and Australia is such a huge swimming nation so it’s pretty cool to be out here and race and these girls did such a good job, I’m really proud to be part of the team.”
Team mate Freya Anderson, from Birkenhead: [On the atmosphere of the event]
“Yeah it was really good, the crowd was really good as well, especially when Australia were coming back, it was just really cool to be in that environment. It’s been great learning from other teams and seeing how they swim, how they handle themselves in the cold room, it’s really inspiring.”
On winning a bronze medal at her debut Commonwealth Games Anna Hopkin, from Chorley,: [On the event]
“Yeah really exciting, it’s my first commonwealth games and I just wanted to make the most of it, obviously being in this crowd with Australia as favourites, people were going mad and I think it brought the best in me. The team has been amazing and I’m really happy to get a medal.”
[On joining the team] “Really welcoming, everyone’s been so helpful, there’s a lot of experience but also a lot of newbies, so I think everyone’s gelled well together and hopefully we’ll bring some more medals back.”
Eleanor Faulkner from Sheffield:
[On the 200m] “The 200 was a tough one, I was quite disappointed, but then looking back at the times the girls did, I realised I brought the best out of myself in the situation, the girls went super-quick in that freestyle and I was happy to be part of that race.”
[On going in for the final opener] “Obviously I was a bit tired from this afternoon and this morning’s swims, but I just gave it my all and hopefully the girls were proud.”