Pressure off for Magees ahead of semi-final battle

BADMINTON pair Chloe and Sam Magee will go into this morning’s European Games semi-final with the luxury of having a bronze medal already secured – the question now is whether they can upgrade it to silver or gold.

The Donegal siblings were highly impressive in their quarterfinal in Minsk, Belarus yesterday, powering past Dutch duo Selena Piek and Robin Tabeling in straight sets.

“To know we’re going home with a medal is the most incredible feeling you could imagine,” said Chloe. “We really wanted that but we’ve had such a tough draw and we’ve battled through so many tough games.”

The Magees were bronze medallists in the mixed doubles at the 2015 European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, and they will have it all to do if they are to go one better today, facing gold medal favourites Chris and Gabrielle Adcock of Britain.

Their best previous effort against the husband-and-wife duo was a 2-1 defeat, but Sam is adamant that with a medal secured they will be ready to put up a stern fight.

“We have no pressure,” he said. “They have the pressure, they’re top seeds, world-class players and they’re expected to win.”

In track cycling yesterday, the women’s team pursuit of Orla Walsh, Mia Griffin, Lydia Gurley and Shannon McCurley finished fifth in 4:30.118, one second quicker than their qualifying time.

Walsh was back in action later in the day in the women’s scratch race, where she finished 11th.

In the women’s keirin, Robyn Stewart bowed out after finishing second in her repechage, having earlier finished fourth in her heat.

Marc Potts was the sole Irish entrant in the men’s points race, the 27-year-old coming home 10th with eight points.