lsle of Man’s leading badminton players got their 2018 Commonwealth Games campaign off to a good start on Australia’s Gold Coast earlier this week.

Ben Li and Kim Clague both won their opening singles matches in the round of 64, Li triumphing 2-0 against Zambia’s Chongo Mulenga while Clague also got the better of Mulenga’s compatriot Everlyn Siamupangila by the same scoreline.

Unfortunately Cristen Marritt lost out 0-2 to Pakistan’s Mahoor Shahzad in the same round.

Clague’s reward was a last-32 match against reigning Commonwealth Games champion Michelle Li and, despite a brave effort, it was the Canadian who progressed to the next round at the Manxwoman’s expense.

It was a similar story for Ben as he was drawn against former world number one Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia who proved too strong and won 2-0.

However, there was success for Jessica Li as the Island Games gold medalist got the better of Zambia’s Ogar Siamupangila 21-9, 21-13 to seal her place in the last-16 and a match against India’s second seed Saina Nehwal today (Thursday).

In the women’s doubles competition, Marritt and Clague went down fighting 13-21, 19-21 to the Sri Lankan pair of Hasini Ambalangodage and Madushika Dilrukshi Beruwelage.

In the mixed doubles competition round of 32, the Li duo were unlucky to miss out on a place in the last-16 as they narrowly lost 17-21, 19-21 to the Ghanian pair of Emmanuel Donkor and Stella Koteikai Amasah.