Badminton: Another chance, but tears flow for the one that got away

By CHRIS BARCLAY

Sara Runesten Petersen is assured of at least a silver medal, but the Danish-born New Zealander was teary-eyed after another golden opportunity slipped by.

Runesten Petersen and Nicole Gordon will become the first New Zealanders to win a Commonwealth medal other than bronze when they play Li Peng Ang and Pek Siah Lim, of Malaysia, in the women's doubles final today.

They reached the gold medal decider by beating another Malaysian combination, Pei Tty Wong and Eei Hui Chin, 7-3, 7-3, 7-3.

But Runesten Petersen left the Bolton Arena downcast after her mixed doubles campaign with Daniel Shirley ended in the semifinals with a five-set defeat to Sydney Olympics bronze medallists Simon Archer and Jo Goode, of England, 1-7, 7-5, 6-8, 7-4, 2-7.

Although Gordon and Runesten Petersen exceeded expectations by making their final, coach Graham Robson said Shirley and Runesten Petersen had been targeting an elusive gold in their event.

"It was so close, just a point here and there, but you have to be proud of them," he said.

"The English played very well."

A crucial moment came in the third set when New Zealand squandered a set point and eventually lost 6-8 after an Archer swipe hit the net and plopped over out of reach.

The New Zealanders then appeared to gain the ascendancy in the fourth.

The English pair seemed rattled after Archer incurred a yellow card warning for disputing an umpire's call.

New Zealand rocketed out to a 6-1 lead and forced a decider after taking the set 7-4.

The English, backed by their home crowd, dominated the fifth to win 7-2 and earn a final against Chin and fellow Malaysian Kim Wai Chang.

"That [semi] was really the gold medal match and we were so close," Robson said. "They knew it would be a tough one, but you have to be proud it went to five sets with the Olympic bronze medallists.

"They're still a relatively young pair in terms of playing together, and their goal is the next Olympics."

Runesten Petersen said it was disappointing to get so close.

"We trained all year because we knew we had a chance," she said.

Robson was pleased the team had exceeded expectations and won a medal superior to bronze.

- NZPA

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