Team GB women’s singles player Kirsty Gilmour admits she is determined to learn from her Olympic experience after defeat to Linda Zetchiri brought an end to her Rio 2016 adventure.
After victory over Switzerland’s Sabrina Jaquet in her opening match on Thursday, Gilmour knew that another win against Zetchiri would ensure safe passage from Group D through to the last 16.
But, after waiting patiently for her match for most of the day at Riocentro Pavilion 4, Gilmour’s hopes failed to come to fruition after she lost out 12-21, 21-17, 21-16 in 69 minutes.
It had started so well too as she won the opening game after 19 minutes but 2012 European silver medallist Zetchiri hit back and eventually confirmed the win, with the Bulgarian then progressing into the knockout stages.
Gilmour said: “I do tend to come out very fast and not a lot of people can keep up but she caught up to the rhythm and she knew what was coming rather than it being unexpected.
“She caught up to the pace and to her credit that’s the best I’ve seen her play for a long time. She must have been working hard over the summer.
“I think I went a bit tight in the second. I couldn’t seem to find the baseline.
“At the start of the second set I couldn’t get a good length and then at the end of the second set I couldn’t keep it in.
“So I just didn’t manage to find the right weight of shot but that’s just something I need to work on and learn from.
“I hope I’m only at the start of my career and I’ve got many more tough lessons to learn on the way.”
