Epsom’s Chris Langridge will have his sights on gold as he makes his Olympic debut in the badminton men’s doubles in Rio this evening.
Langridge, and his doubles partner Marcus Ellis, will take on Denmark at 9:25pm, before taking on South Korea at 3:20pm tomorrow and Poland at 7:30pm on Saturday in the group stage.
The duo have won the English National title for the last two years, bronze in the 2016 European Championships and also reached the quarter-finals in the 2015 World Championships.
The 31-year-old won three medals at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth games — a gold in the men’s doubles with Peter Mills and two silvers in the team and mixed doubles events.
Langridge said: “I’ve had times where I’ve thought ‘Is this the right lifestyle for me’?
“There are so many things you have to give up.
“The amount of times I’ve missed great friends’ weddings and stag do’s – the general things people love to do but because we’re an elite athlete you can’t afford to take a day or even a session off.
“For me that first goal from the age of 16 was to go to the Olympics and represent Team GB and put on a good show for myself and for my country.
“I want to compete with the best in the world.”
