High-Performance
Recap: 2022 Commonwealth Games
August 10, 2022
Badminton Canada's national team athletes competed at the XXII Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England from July 28 to August 8.
From July 28 to August 8, 2022, 152 athletes, including 8 Canadians, competed in badminton at the XXII Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
The Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event that happens every 4 years and features the best athletes from the Commonwealth nations. The Games are recognized as among the most inclusive Games in the world as both able-bodied and para events compete alongside another. Additionally, the Games are the first global multi-sport event to have more events for women than for men.
During the 2022 Commonwealth Games, there is a Team Event and Badminton Event.
The competition started with a Team Event where the best athletes from each country competed in a series of three out of five. Team Canada's first match took place on Friday, July 29, 2022 against Uganda and ended in a convincing 5-0 victory. The following day, Team Canada athletes triumphed again and defeated Team Maldives, 5-0. Following this victory, Team Canada qualified for the quarter-finals. The next morning they played the host team and Team Canada lost 3-0. Unfortunately, Team Canada was unable to qualify for the semi-finals following this loss.
A few days later, the individual championships started and 8 Canadians participated in all 5 events (MS, WS, MD, WD, XD).
Canada's only medal would come in Women's Singles, where Canada's Michelle Li was seeded second and was chasing a second Commonwealth Games title after winning gold in 2014. She started her tournament by winning by default on her first match, and winning 21-10, 21-9 against Insyirah Khan (ENG). Then she faced Rachael Darragh (NIR) in the quarter-finals and won 21-14, 21-14. In the semi-final she had an incredible match against Kirsty Gilmore (SCO), her rival in the 2014 Commonwealth Games final. She lost the first set 21-23 but fought back to win 21-23, 23-21, 21-18 and advance to her second Commonwealth Games final. She was finally defeated in the final 21-15, 21-13 against PV Sindu (IND), but finshed the tournament with a well earned Silver Medal.
To review the tables and full results, it's here: https://results.birmingham2022.com/#/h2h-sports-schedule/BDM/2022-08-05