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Commonwealth Games: Injury-hit O'Brien in early Games exit
BEVERLEY tennis ace Katie O'Brien vowed to head home from the Commonwealth Games with her head held high – despite a shoulder injury causing her to fall at the first hurdle in Delhi.
O'Brien had been undergoing intensive treatment ever since arriving in India with a shoulder tear last Friday.
The 24-year-old third seed struggled to train but was given a boost when she was handed a bye through the first round before raising her spirits by steamrollering Rushmi Chakravarthi 6-1 in the opening set of her first match.
But as the game wore on she started to fade and Chakravarthi pushed home the advantage to claim the clash 6-1, 6-7 and 5-7 and leave O'Brien licking her wounds.
"It is just disappointment really because I've had a torn shoulder all week and I haven't been able to practice at all," said O'Brien. "But I thought I would give it a go. I hit for 20 minutes when I got here last Friday and I couldn't raise my arm.
"The medical team has been great here. I didn't think I would be able to play at all. The fact I got on court was an achievement in itself. I was up in the second set, but it was tough as the match wore on. My shoulder got worse, so I was handicapped more physically as the match wore on."
O'Brien began the year by reaching a career high ranking of 87 and held high expectations for the Commonwealths before injury struck.
But despite cutting a frustrated figure courtside, O'Brien vowed to remain in India and cheer on her England team-mates.
"It is a great event and I'm still really delighted to be here," added O'Brien.
"I will enjoy the experience whilst I am here and support the rest of the team."
Hockey duo Barry Middleton and Alastair Wilson helped England get their Commonwealth Games campaign off to a solid start as they brushed aside minnows Trinidad & Tobago.
Simon Mantell found the net twice while Ashley Jackson and Alastair Brogdon also got on the scoresheet as England opened up with a solid if unspectacular 4-0 wins in Delhi.
"We're relatively pleased with the performance today," said Middleton. "The conditions are very tough and we not used to that but we're pleased to keep a clean sheet and we'll come away with a few things to work on."
Meanwhile, Dewsbury's Kate Hutchinson conceded she had little left in the tank after her Commonwealth Games campaign came to a close with a whimper in the 200m breaststroke in Delhi.
The 22-year-old finished third in her semi-final in two minutes 34.08 minutes but with only eight reaching the afternoon's final Hutchinson time was only good enough to rank her ninth.
European long and short course 400m medley champion Hannah Miley claimed the final spot also finishing her semi-final in third but just over two seconds quicker in 2-32.04 minutes.
Hutchinson's swim in the 200m breaststroke on Wednesday was her third of the week so far having swum in the 200m medley on Monday and finishing eighth.
"I was disappointed with the time and I think my body has taken the toll from my previous events," said Hutchinson.
"I knew I was tired before I went in and I got up for it and excited.
"But sometimes things just do not go to plan and It has been difficult getting up so early like you do for training. Usually I am a faster evening swimmer but you just have to take it on the chin.
Also in the pool, Aimee Wilmott acquitted herself well in the 800m freestyle but couldn't quite reach the final after finishing fifth in her heat in a time of 8:46.91 minutes.
SPAR, there for you and our GB athletes, proud supporters since 2004 www.spar.co.uk. “I knew I was tired before I went in and I got up for it and excited.
“But sometimes things just do not go to plan and It has been difficult getting up so early like you do for training. Usually I am a faster evening swimmer but you just have to take it on the chin.
Also in the pool, Aimee Wilmott acquitted herself well in the 800m freestyle but couldn’t quite reach the final after finishing fifth in her heat in a time of 8:46.91 minutes.
l SPAR, there for you and our GB athletes, proud supporters since 2004 www.spar.co.uk.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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