WESTERN suburbs connections Glenn Warfe and Ross Smith were rocked by Chinese power pair Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng in their opening men’s doubles badminton clash in group A at the London Olympics this morning.
Warfe, a Hoppers Crossing resident who works at Badminton Australia’s headquarters in Williamstown, and Smith, a former Victoria University student, were predictably beaten in straight sets 21-11 21-17.
The defeat leaves the Australian pair on the bottom of their group after the first round of matches.
They get a chance to rebound quickly this evening (Australian time) when they battle Chinese Taipei’s Chieh Min Fang and Sheng Mu Lee.
In the women’s doubles, Sunshine resident and former Victoria University student Renuga Veeran has combined with Leanne Choo and they are also on the wrong side of the ledger in the pool opener.
The Australians were toppled by Indonesia’s Meiliana Jauhari and Greysia Polii 21-11 20-22 21-13 in a game that went the distance.
Veeran-Choo face a must-win on day two tomorrow morning (Australian time) against South Africa’s Michelle Edwards and Annari Viljoen.
Werribee judo star Ivo Dos Santos is just hours away from realising his Olympic dream.
The 26-year-old will not only have to battle the butterflies of such a grand occasion, but will also be public enemy No. 1 as he duels hometown favourite Colin Oates in his opening round of the under-66kg division.
It will not be an easy assignment for Dos Santos.
Oates was a bronze medal winner at the European Championships in 2011 after claiming gold at the English Senior Open earlier in the year.
Who to watch?
London 2012 – Day 2
Badminton: Glenn Warfe and Ross Smith (Australia) v Chieh Min Fang-Sheng Mu Lee (Chinese Taipei) – Today, 6.44pm
Judo: Ivo Dos Santos (Australia) v Colin Oates (Great Britain) – Today, 7.12pm
Badminton: Renuga Veeran and Leanne Choo (Australia) v Michelle Edwards and Annari Viljoen (South Africa) – Tomorrow, 5.52am
Follow Lance Jenkinson on Twitter @westsport for London 2012 updates.
