Rajiv Ouseph Sends Reassurance Ahead of Crunch Game
Rajiv Ouseph has reassured his fans that he is back to full fitness ahead of Team Derby’s vital National Badminton League clash with Milton Keynes. Ouseph said he has recovered from a groin and Achilles injury and recently reached the quarter-finals of the men’s singles at the All England Championships in Birmingham.
“I’ve just come back from injury but I’ve had a couple of tournaments now, so I’m feeling fully fit again,” said the England number one. “I’m looking forward to the Milton Keynes match. It’s really nice to play in front of your home crowd. It’s not something we get to do that much, so as well as the NBL, the All England is a good chance to do that. It was the best I’ve done at that tournament in my career, so it was really good for me. Hopefully, I can continue that sort of form and take it into the remaining NBL matches and other tournaments as well.”
The 28-year-old is enjoying life at Team Derby, under the guidance of former Great Britain star Donna Kellogg. Kellogg, from Spondon, is coaching the team and Ouseph cites her as an inspiration during his early years. “When I first started coming through, Donna was playing at the top level,” he said. “I remember going to quite a few tournaments and staying to watch her play in the later stages, looking at her as someone I could aspire to be like. She was a very good doubles player and she’s been very good with us. She’s helped us a lot and given us inspiration for these matches. It’s nice that she’s still involved in the badminton scene and it’s good for Derby, because she’s local and that gets everyone else involved.”
