Shuttle out

Despite the presence of star performers Pedro Martins and Telma Santos, Che Lagoense failed to make it past the group stage of badminton’s European Club Championships in Hungary. An opening 7-0 defeat by the Russian Primorye side was followed by a second 7-1 loss to Denmark’s Skaelskor-Slagelse before the multinational team representing Italian champions Diesse Mediterranea also proved far too strong. The Algarveans finally tasted success when Switzerland’s St.Gallen-Appenzell were defeated 5-2 in the final Group D encounter making the journey home a less unhappy one. Martins and Santos will next be hoping for individual success when bidding for Olympic gold in London.