Chloe Birch and Lauren Smith are eagerly preparing for the upcoming TOTAL BWF World Championships 2019. After a challenging Asian leg in July, where they faced early exits in Indonesia and Japan, the England pair is excited to compete in a familiar venue.
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Smith, currently ranked 27th in women’s doubles with Birch, expressed her familiarity with the hall, stating, “I’ve played the Swiss Open for eight years now, so I’m familiar with the hall. It’s somewhere I’ve always enjoyed playing. They’ve recently refurbished it and it looks really good. And it takes the jet lag and long haul travel out of the equation. That’s always helpful, it means our prep can be quite good and we don’t have to spend so long in the country before we start competing. So it’s an advantage being in Europe and we’ll hopefully put it to good use.”
The duo’s confidence stems from their impressive mid-season performances. They emerged victorious at the Orleans Masters, were runners-up at the Denmark Challenge, won the Azerbaijan International, and reached the finals of the European Games. Their success at the European Games, where they defeated strong opponents like Sara Thygesen/Maiken Fruergaard and Anne Tran/Emilie Lefel, has further boosted their morale heading into the championships.
Reflecting on their performance, Birch shared, “We played well, got some good results. It was a positive start in July, and we’re looking forward to pushing ahead.” Smith added, “We got confidence from the opening games. We played well through the week, unfortunately we couldn’t play as well in the final. We showed good performance and not many people wanted to play us, we were strong and clinical… we know there are still things we can work on in the partnership. So we have a lot of confidence. We are looking to work on them.”
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The partnership between Birch and Smith began in 2016, and after a break in 2017, they reunited last year at the China Open. They immediately tasted success by winning the Czech Open and making it to the semifinals of the SaarLorLux Open. While they are yet to defeat the top pairs, they believe they are not far behind.
Smith emphasized the need for consistency, stating, “If you look at today’s match, it was the consistency. We did a lot of good stuff in there, but we did it in patches, we gave away three-four easy points and when you get to the top level you can’t afford to make those. The best pairs are making like one mistake in an hour. It’s definitely positive, we’re very clear on what we’re working on and where we want to go.”
Birch, known for competing in both singles and doubles, sees her singles play as an advantage for her doubles game. As she sets her sights on Tokyo 2020, she explains, “I’ve played a lot growing up, I’m only 23, so at the junior level, I played a lot of singles and doubles. The focus this year is obviously on doubles, the Race to Tokyo, but I’m still playing a bit of singles. We don’t have that many singles players in our country, so I kind of carry on playing. It’s nice to play singles, it adds another dimension to my game, and it means I can run; I see it as a positive and it means that my movements are really good.”
FAQs
1. How has the recent refurbishment of the hall for the Swiss Open impacted Chloe Birch and Lauren Smith’s preparation?
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The refurbishment of the hall has provided Birch and Smith with a familiar and upgraded playing venue for the TOTAL BWF World Championships 2019. It eliminates concerns about jet lag and long-haul travel, allowing them to focus on their preparation and spend more time on improving their game.
2. What achievements have given Birch and Smith confidence going into the championships?
Birch and Smith have had a successful mid-season, winning the Orleans Masters, reaching the finals of the European Games, and securing victories in other tournaments. Their strong performances and victories against formidable opponents have instilled confidence in their abilities leading up to the championships.
3. How do Birch and Smith plan to improve their partnership and compete against the top pairs?
Birch and Smith recognize the importance of consistency in their game. They aim to minimize easy points given away and reduce mistakes during matches. By focusing on their weaknesses and working on their partnership, they are determined to bridge the gap between them and the top pairs in the world.
Conclusion
Chloe Birch and Lauren Smith are gearing up for the TOTAL BWF World Championships 2019 with high hopes and confidence. Their familiarity with the playing venue and recent successes have set a positive tone for their performance. Birch’s experience in both singles and doubles adds versatility to their game, while Smith’s determination to improve their consistency paves the way for future success. As the championships approach, all eyes will be on this dynamic duo as they strive to make their mark on the badminton world.
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