Familiar obstacle blocks Baxter again (From News Shopper)

Familiar obstacle blocks Baxter again

3:50pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Other Sport

By Gerard Meagher

PETTS Wood’s Carl Baxter admits trying to win the English national badminton championships is like banging his head against a brick wall, although yet another defeat in Bolton last weekend isn’t going to knock him out of his stride.

The 26-year-old former England number one arrived in Bolton seeded second and he eased his way into the final where he faced a familiar foe in four-time defending champion Rajiv Ouseph.

Baxter battled admirably but for the fourth year in a row he met his match in Ouseph, going down 21-18, 21-4 as his opponent made history by becoming the first person ever to win five titles in a row.

But while settling for the runner-up spot on the domestic stage has become second nature for Baxter, he’s not about to throw in the towel just yet.

“I gave it my best shot and I can’t really do any more than that, it would be nice to play someone else one day but I can’t really see that happening,” said Baxter, who has never taken a set off Ouseph in their umpteen meetings.

“I’m not really getting closer but if I’m here next year then I’ll try just as hard.

“In a one-off game you never know what’s going to happen, so I’ll keep plugging away.

“I’m not really sure what I’ll be doing next, I’m not sure about the All England Championships, I don’t really know if I’ll make it but we’ll see what happens.”

Baxter would be forgiven for being sick of the sight of Ouseph, such is the hoodoo he has over him, but the Canadian-born star is adamant it couldn’t be further from the truth.

And Baxter also revealed the fact he is losing to Ouseph is the one thing which softens the blow.

“We train with each other and room with each other and at tournaments we train together so we get on pretty well,” he added.

“It doesn’t make that much difference in the actual game but it’s either you win or your friend wins so it’s alright.”

To experience the English athletes and worldwide Olympic hopefuls next in England, purchase tickets to the Yonex All England open badminton championships from March 6 to March 11 by visiting allenglandbadminton.com

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