Ouseph gains revenge on Jorgensen at World Championships

RAJIV Ouseph avenged his European Championships semi-final defeat by Jan O Jorgensen at the World Championships in Paris by downing the Dane in the second round.

ON THE MARCH: Rajiv Ouseph gains revenge on his Danish rival in Paris but the acid test awaits in the third round (Alex Roache)

The three-time English national champion was forced to dig deep to avoid a first round exit but was in dominant mood against Jorgensen, racking up a 21-12, 25-23 victory.

But Ouseph's task in Paris gets no easier and after his 34-minute victory he must now face number one seed and All England champion Lee Chong Wei in Thursday's third round.

Ouseph said: "This made up for the Europeans. I think I played better today and perhaps he didn't play quite as well. The win means a lot because this is my first World Championships.

"Lee wants to win the World Championships so I am definitely going to be the underdog.

"But I'll go out to enjoy it. Jan has beaten him before so I don't see why I can't."

His victory is already tangible evidence of Badminton England's restructuring with men's head coach Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark only too aware of Jorgensen's threat. 

 Jorgensen admitted: "Kenneth had given Raj some good tips. But the match had hinged on little percentages."

 Carl Baxter was also bidding to join Ouseph in the third round but he went out against ninth seed Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand, going down 21-18, 21-17.

 "This was my first World Championships and he is one of the best players in the world," said Baxter.

"He was just that bit sharper and, of course, has more experience. He also anticipates well and is good at reading the game.

"But I prepared well for the Championships and Kenneth has helped with a few little things to improve my game. He's still good on court and at feeding the shuttle and he has worked on technical and tactical things to help me improve.

But there is better news for Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork who are through to the last 16 of the mixed doubles after beating Bulgaria's Stilian Makarski and Diana Dimova 21-9, 21-12.

They now face Denmark's defending world and reigning European champions Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Juhl, the duo they played in the second round of the Yonex All England Championships in Birmingham in March.

Robertson, who won the mixed world title with Gail Emms in Madrid in 2006, is also going strong in the men's doubles with Anthony Clark, who won silver in mixed and men's doubles in Madrid four years ago.

They quickly disposed of Vitaliy Konov and Dymytro Zavadsky of Ukraine 21-11, 21-9 but will now take on 2006 and 2009 world champions Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun of China tomorrow.